What You Need to Know About Roses

Roses are one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden. They can also be one of the most difficult to grow. Caring for roses may take some time, but the rewards are worth it. There are many, many different types of Roses. Tea, Grandiflora, Floribunda, Old English, Ramblers, Climbers, Miniature, etc. Many of the newer hybrid varieties will bloom off and on throughout the growing season, while others have one spectacular show, with intermittent flowers later on. The "Knock Out" variety rose is a vigorous grower with fantastic flowers all season.

Roses have very particular needs. Roses need a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day. They also like light, well drained soil. The soil around their roots should be kept loose by cultivating often. This brings necessary oxygen to the roots of the plants. They also like to be fed a good organic fertilizer regularly and mulched around the base of the plant to help keep the roots cool in the heat of summer and warm in winter.

Roses also need regular care to keep insects and disease at bay. An insecticidal soap spray will keep away Aphids and Whiteflies. An organic fungicide spray will keep away Black spot, a disease very common to roses. Watering the soil around the Rose rather than the foliage is also a good prevention against Black Spot. If you have an irrigation system try to keep the Roses away from the direct spray, as Roses do not like wet leaves and will also not flower as well. If you keep a scheduled maintenance for insect and disease prevention, the care becomes very easy. If one waits until there is an infestation of one sort or another, it is much more difficult to eradicate the problem. The old adage "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" definitely applies.

When pruning your Roses, or simply clipping some for a vase, be sure to use good sharp pruning shears. Dull shears can tear the stems, leaving ugly dark marks. It also leaves a larger open wound for disease and insects to feast on. It can even inhibit new growth. When pruning a Rose, prune just above a leaf node. This will encourage the plant to grow bushy and thick. Leaving long stems will make the plant lanky. It is also important to prune out any old dead canes. Depending on the type of Rose, how they are pruned and cut back for the winter will vary. Check the instructions that come with the plant.

Roses look beautiful in both Formal and Informal gardens. They coincide well with perennials such as Lavender and Black Eyed Susan, they mix well in the Herb garden as well as an accent to Evergreens. A Rose Tree will make an outstanding centerpiece in any garden or as a focal point at an entry.

Roses have been revered by many generations of gardeners and non-gardeners alike. The beauty of Roses will enhance the look of your home year after year.