Best Way To Grow Roses In Your Garden

Even with all the thorns roses are a beautiful flower. If your heart is set on growing roses in your garden.  The best way to grow roses is to plan in advance.

Choosing the right type of roses is the first step.  As some roses have more perfume than others, so if the scent is a major consideration, you need to choose your rose type carefully.

Garden roses tend to emit a strong and memorable perfume, whereas hothouse roses tend to vary from a mild fragrance to having almost none.

Try to visit rose gardens that are open to the public to give you some inspiration as to the type and colour for your garden.

The best ways to grow roses in your garden

Planting roses

When preparing a bed for your roses, select a sunny position.  As roses require at least six to eight hours of daylight a day. They require a well-drained soil with plenty of organic compost. In hot climates, roses survive better when they are protected from the hot afternoon sun.

When to plant roses

It is best to plant roses in the spring after the last frost, or in the fall at least six weeks before the first frost in your area. This will give the roots plenty of time to burrow into the soil before they become dormant in the winter.

Best way to plant roses

The plant requires a hole to be deep enough and wide enough to accommodate the plant’s roots and allow for good drainage as roses don’t like wet feet.

It is a good idea to add a good mix of garden compost, peat moss with the soil that has been removed from the hole. Put some of this mixed soil in the bottom of the hole and plant your rose. Ensure the plants crown is at ground level in mild climates and 2-3 inches below ground level in cold climates.

Fill the hole partially with the soil mixture and add slow-release fertilizer.  Water thoroughly then finish filling the hole. Water again then mound loose soil around the canes as it acclimatises to its new site.

If you are planning on planting more than one rose bush, space them at least 3 feet apart to give them room to grow and mature.

How to Fertilize roses properly

It is important to fertilize roses regularly if you want to have an impressive display of flowers.

Slow-release fertilizers have the right amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and other nutrients that give the roses the nourishments that they need for optimum growth.

Watering roses

Roses do best when the soil moisture is kept even throughout the growing season. How often you water your roses.  Will be determined on the weather, where you live and the type of soil in which the roses are planted.

Choosing the best rose varieties

There is a myriad of rose colours and varieties to select from. There is a large range of flower forms and sizes. From tiny single to full double blowsy blooms.

As I said above the best way to grow roses, depends on choosing a rose right for your situation. If you have a particular variety that you like and wish to plant only that one.  Take a trip to your local nursery to see if they have what you want.

Dealing with Rose diseases

Unfortunately, roses can get diseases as well.  To make sure that your prized roses remain in the best of health, simply follow these tips.

Black Spots on Leaves

This disease is commonly known as black spot. Black spots appear as circular with fringed edges on leaves. They cause the leaves to yellow. Remove the infected foliage and pick up any fallen leaves around the rose. You can use an artificial spray like BioAdvanced 701250 Disease Control for Roses, Flowers and Shrubs Garden Fungicide to prevent or treat this kind of rose disease.

Stunted or malformed young canes

Known as powdery mildew, this is a fungal disease that covers leaves, stems and buds with wind spread the white powder. It makes the leaves curl and turn purple. Spray with Funginex or Benomyl to treat this fungal disease.

Blistered underside of leaves

Known as rust, this disease is characterized by orange-red blisters that turn black in fall. It can survive the winter and will then attack new sprouts in the spring. Collect and discard leaves that are infected in fall. a Benomyl or Funginex spray every 7-10 days may help.

Malformed or stunted leaves and flowers

Stunted and malformed leaves and flowers are generally caused by spider mites. They are tiny yellow, red or green spiders found on the underside of leaves where they suck juices. The application of Orthene or Isotox may help in treating this infestation.

Weak and mottled leaves with tiny white webs under them

This problem is caused by aphids. Aphids are small soft-bodied insects that are usually brown, green or red. Often clustered under leaves and flower buds, they suck plant juices from tender buds. Malathion or diazinon spray may help roses to survive these bugs.

Deformed flowers

Flowers can sometimes not open or are deformed when they open.  Thrips could be the reason behind this problem. They are slender, brown-yellow bugs with fringed wings that also suck juices from flower buds. Cut and discard the infested flowers. Orthene and malathion may also treat this problem.

Remember that roses are hungry feeders that require regular fertilizer to become healthy bushes.  Your garden is an extension of your home if you are unsure where to start your garden read this article about how to get started gardening.

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