A rose is a perennial flowering shrub or vine of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae, that contains over 100 species. The species form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp thorns. Natives, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and fragrance

Monday, May 26, 2008

Gardening: Caring for Roses Tips

by Lucy Gartner

A lot of people would love to consider gardening caring for roses. These flowers are among the most beautiful in the world. The usual problem though is that growing roses may become difficult if you aren't familiar with the right methods to handle them. Here are some basic tips to follow when caring for roses.

Before Planting

First of all, you should know that there are many different kinds of roses. Not all of them will grow well in the area where you live. The first step should therefore be to find out which kinds are best for your area. You can quickly research on this online or you can also ask some of your neighbors who grow roses for recommendations. Once you've settled on a kind you want to grow, you also have to consider the availability of an ideal area for roses. The spot for your roses should be accessible to sunlight, should be spacious and should have clean, rich and dry soil.

Feeding

Roses are plants that can really figuratively munch. You should therefore have a ready store of food for your roses. Not every rose expert will agree on the right way to feed roses. Some suggest giving roses small but regular meals. There are stores that sell packed rose food but always pick a brand with lots of nutrients.

Don't get too excited though. Some roses will simply not do well if you fertilize them too much. The general rule is that new rose plants should only be minimally fertilized. Only full grown roses should be given standard cup fertilizer rations. Some fertilizers are especially formulated for weekly use. These kinds of fertilizers however are not necessary. You can always opt for rose fertilizers that need to be mixed with the soil only once or twice annually.

Water Supply

It's obvious that gardening caring for roses won't be complete without watering. There are different recommendations but the usual tip is to give one or two inches of water every seven days. Water should be allowed to seep deep into the soil. It is often suggested too that water should not keep the soil and leaves wet for 24 hours. Water retention can be a cause for rose illnesses.

Cutting Stems

Pruning is a basic rose grooming tip you shouldn't neglect. You can start pruning as soon as buds make an appearance. Before you cut healthy stems, remove all the dead ones first. You should then consider diagonally cutting some chosen stems. This will allow you to shape your rose plant according to your preference.

Chemical Spray

One way to stop roses from getting sick is to spray them. You don't need to go into a lot of trouble. All you have to do is to buy a pre-mixed spray solution. You then just need to follow the package instructions for frequency and amount of application. Spraying is your best defense against common rose ailments.

Some may imagine that gardening caring for roses is difficult. All you really need though is a lot of time, diligence and patience to offer your rose plant.

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