Climbing Roses - A Special Way To Grow A Special Plant

By Jonathan Ya'akobi

Growing a climbing rose bush can be one of the most satisfying features in a garden. Usually, the rose's long stems are trained to grow vertically up a pole where they cover the ceiling of some structure such as a trellis or pergola. You may have noticed that the flowers appear only at the plant's tips, while the shrub as a whole is green with foliage, but bare of flowers. There is a way however of inducing the mass of the plant to be smothered in blooms, thereby creating a far more spectacular effect.

The trick is to train the branches to grow horizontally, spacing them some 20-30cm from each other to create a kind of a fan shape. When stems grow horizontally or parallel to the ground, the dominance that the leading bud exerts on those below is neutralized, while the buds situated along the branches are activated and start to sprout short stems, upon which develop leaves and then flowers. This procedure is known as the espalier method, and is an excellent way of covering a wall, fence, or even a garden shed.

Climbing roses, while not necessarily being suitable for every situation, should definitely be considered in many circumstances. The large Bordeaux red flowers of the variety "don Juan" for instance, can look breathtaking against a white stone wall, as can the dark crimson of "Chrysler Imperial," (climbing type) while a gentler effect is achieved by bushes that sport pink, or pale yellow blooms, such as the climbing varieties of "Peace", "Queen Elizabeth", or "Gloire de Dijon".

The drawback of choosing a climbing rose as the solution to a particular design issue is of course the work involved in caring for it. Clearly it is much easier and cheaper to plant some self-clinging vine such as Ivy to do its worst, and of its own accord, ramble wild and smother what ever needs to be covered. The trouble with the latter option is that however tempting it may seem in terms of saving labor and maintenance, expensive damage is liable to be caused to the wall of a building in the long run. A far better alternative, let alone an infinitely more beautiful one, is to take the trouble and grow a climbing rose.

To achieve the best results it is advisable to build some support structure, which not only allows for the branches to be trained and tied onto it, but is also strong enough to take the weight of the rose bush when it reaches maturity after a few years. On a stone wall for example, metal pegs can be drilled at suitable intervals, so that wires can be stretched at the afore-mentioned distance of 20-30 cm. This admittedly involves some initial expense both in materials and labor, but the investment should be extremely worthwhile.

Growing a climbing rose as an espalier, not only requires tying and training, but pruning as well. In the winter, the short stems known as spurs, which sprout from the main branches can be pruned back to the first two or three buds, (but not less than two) while branches that cannot be easily trained can be removed. Spent flowers can always be dead-headed through the year, as needs be. It should be remembered that many climbing varieties are in fact "mutants" of regular rose shrubs, and that pruning the main stems can cause them to revert to their non-climbing habit. It follows therefore that the main branches should not be shortened, although old stems can be removed entirely to make way for juvenile growth.

My name is Jonathan Ya'akobi. I've been gardening in a professional capacity since 1984. I am the former head gardener of the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, but now concentrate on building gardens for private home owners. I also teach horticulture to students on training courses. I'd love to help you get the very best from your garden, so you're welcome to visit me on http://www.dryclimategardening.com

Organic Rose Gardening - What Is It

By Matt Hick

The term organic seems to be everywhere these days, from the vegetables in the produce aisle to the cereal we eat in the morning. There are many definitions and ideas about what truly makes something organic, but in rose gardening and gardening in general it's pretty simple. Organic gardening is rooted in the concept of feeding the soil and strengthening your plants naturally so that the plants will flourish without the need for chemical fertilizer or pesticides. On a more philosophical level, organic gardeners try to learn about and work with nature rather than control it with heavy-duty chemical fertilizers.

There are several ways to incorporate organic ideas into your rose garden, starting even before you put a plant in the ground. Most experts agree that careful conditioning of soil is vital to the eventual success and health of your rose garden. You should begin by digging up the existing soil, to a depth of about one foot, reserving that soil for later. Add compost, peat moss or manure to this layer and then dig again, this time mixing the soil with the additive. Adding this organic material will get your roses off to a good start.

Now, you can add some bone meal into the top layer of dirt, replace the first foot of soil and begin your planting.

Mulch will be a great friend to your rose plants and help your keep all the natural nutrients in the soil. In the summer it will keep weeds away and help to keep the moisture level of your plants consistent. For this benefit, add mulch to your regular care shortly before the first bloom appears. In winter, careful mulching will protect your roses from a dangerous cycle of freezing and thawing, causing the plant to shift underground, damaging the root system. By reinforcing the plant with several inches of soil and covering that soil with mulch, you will protect the plant's root system from the harsh conditions of winter and you will see a healthy plant emerge in the spring.

Keeping your soil adequately moist and feeding it regularly with compost or other organic matter, such as peat moss will ensure healthy plants, but what about garden bugs and other pests? With organic gardening, there is an acceptance that bugs are just part of nature, and thus, part of any garden. Your local garden store will have organic solutions to pest problems available if you really can't stand a certain pest that has found your roses irresistible.

Another popular concept of organic gardening is companion planting. These plants, in addition to adding beauty and variety to your garden, serve the purpose of keeping pests away from your roses. Garlic and onions make wonderful companion plants to your rose bushes and add to the diversity of your garden.

Finally, selecting rose varieties that are indigenous to your area will reduce the need for artificial fertilizers, and produce the best results in your garden. You can find just about any color or size rose plant in a variety well suited to your climate and soil. These plants will be well suited to your landscape and should need only basic care to thrive.

Organic gardening, and organic rose gardening in particular can be very rewarding and surprisingly simple to achieve.

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Source: ezinearticles

Rose Gardening Advice - Protecting Your Roses From Pests

By Matt Hick

You've put a lot of hard work into your rose garden: preparing the soil, selecting your roses and planting them. Now, you will want to keep those roses safe and protected from pests and diseases. While rose gardening may seem daunting, you can follow just a few simple steps to keep your plants healthy and blooming all season long.

Fungal diseases, thrive on wet plants. Keep your flower beds tidy by keeping fallen leaves and debris away from the plants roots to avoid problems. This will keep fungus issues at bay. Avoid watering the leaves, stems and flowers to keep mold and rust, away. Both can be dangerous to your roses.

When pruning roses, care should be taken to cut back the center of the bushes so that air can circulate, and prevent fungal disease from attacking your plants. Another enemy of your roses is rust which is not fungal in nature, but behaves in a similar way. All three of these conditions can be remedied with fungicidal soap and the pruning of infected stems. It is also important to keep pruning shears clean so as not to spread the fungus to other areas. Using simple craft glue to seal any cuts made during pruning can also help protect your plants from invasive insects.

Insects such as aphids, beetles and caterpillars may also target your roses. For insects, prevention may be found with early season spraying of dormant season oil just before the growth of spring begins. If pests still make their way into your rose garden, there are several options for ridding your plants of them. For beetles and caterpillars, you can take the old fashioned route of picking them off by hand and throwing them into soapy water. This should be done every morning during the infestation and really is one of the best ways to keep your roses safe from these hungry pests.

If pulling bugs off by hand isn't quite your cup of tea, insecticidal soaps are readily available from your local garden center. Used according to their packaging directions, these can be very effective in ridding your garden of unwanted visitors. Vigilance is important if you would like to avoid using strong and often dangerous pesticides. Remember, too that there are many beneficial insects that would also be killed if pesticides were employed in your rose garden.

a lesson from organic gardening, keep in mind that bugs are part of nature and will be part of your rose garden. Choosing plants that are well suited to your particular climate and area will help them thrive and resist most diseases and pests. You can also practice companion planting of garlic or onions near your rose bushes to dissuade invaders.

With some vigilance, your roses will be protected from harmful diseases and pests and will thrive and flower all summer long.

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Gardening Tips - Basic Garden Care To Ensure Healthy Roses

By Matt Hick

Many of us think of a beautiful garden as an almost unattainable goal, and certainly, a rose garden seems even more intimidating. Rose gardening has earned a reputation as being very difficult, a task only the most ambitious gardener with plenty of time on her hands would undertake. In reality, however, rose gardening just takes a little planning, a bit of maintenance and some patience.

As with any garden, a rose garden should be cleaned regularly. Keeping fallen leaves and other garden debris away from the roots of the plants will enable you to water the plants directly at the roots as well as keep fungus and other problems at bay.

Mulch is a wonderful ally to rose gardens. It weeds away and helps to keep the moisture level of your plants consistent. For this benefit, add mulch to your regular care shortly before the first bloom appears. In winter, careful mulching will protect your roses from a dangerous cycle of freezing and thawing, causing the plant to shift underground, damaging the root system. By reinforcing the plant with several inches of soil and covering that soil with mulch, you will protect the plant's root system from the harsh conditions of winter and you will see a healthy plant emerge in the spring.

One of the most important tasks in any garden is watering. It is always important to maintain adequate moisture content for your plants, not too wet and certainly not too dry. Both extremes are detrimental to the health of your whole garden. When watering your rose plants, it is essential to water only around the base of the plant. Introducing water to the leaves and stems of the plants invites both rust and fungal diseases to your plants. The roses will enjoy a good root soaking when the weather conditions require it, saturating the soil to a depth of six to eight inches, rather than simply spraying the plants.

Careful feeding of your rose bushes will keep them looking their best throughout their flowering season and will keep the plants healthy during the dormant period. Your local garden center will have many choices for fertilizer for your roses, and you should carefully follow the instructions for the product you have chosen in measuring the fertilizer according to your type of rose. In general, you should feed your roses in early spring, as soon as you can see buds beginning to swell. Feed again after the plants have produced a full bloom. Another feeding should follow in late summer for most climates. If you have a long growing season, a fourth feeding in early October will hold your plants through the winter.

Following just a few simple guidelines will enable you to grow a beautiful rose garden that will add so much to your home landscape. Your effort will pay off with blooming, healthy plants that will be sure to impress your friends and neighbors.

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