As you may already know, as a rosarian, there are some difficulties when caring for roses, but as time goes on you will see it's really not all that hard. If you have chosen the most optimal place for your rose garden, rose plant or rose bush, then there shouldn't be too many problems. You will have to take care in not overwatering or under-watering your rose plants as this is one of the most common problems. Your rose will need 1-2 inches of water a week, and 2-4 inches in hot zones. Very light tilling of the soil (1 inch deep) with a hoe can be done before watering, if not mulched, to help ensure that the water reaches near 18 inches under the dirt surface.
When fertilizing your roses be sure to follow the directions on the product very carefully before using. Dead roses could be the extreme result if not fertilized properly. Even though correcting the problem can usually be done, you just don't want to have to go through those kinds of problems.
Mixing blood meal, fish meal and alfalfa meal together is a good combination to spread at the base of the rose plant. Once spread evenly, you will want to work some of the mix into the soil, which can be done by hand or a gardening tool. You may also want to apply a granular fertilizer about 2 times a year to help supplement the water-soluble fertilizer that should be spread about every 2 weeks. Early spring and midsummer is when the granular fertilizer should be spread.
Mulching your rose plants will help keep the moisture in the dirt a lot longer than if not mulched. I recommend mulching your roses when caring for your garden in one of the hotter zones. Using a cocoa bean mulch works quite well to keep weeds and some pests away. Do not lay any more than 2 inches as this may reduce the oxygen that the root system needs.
If not growing one of the infamous Knockout Roses, you will need to prune them throughout the summer to prompt the plant to continue blooming. As the blooms start to fade you will want to cut them back just above the cluster of five leaflets. Be sure to cut at a 45 degree angle and invest in a pruning sealer to seal the cut. Sealing the cut will properly protect it from insect damage and/or disease.
As you start caring for roses you will learn that blackspot is one of the most common rose diseases. There are many chemicals that can be bought to help tackle this problem as long as you carefully read the directions and follow them correctly. You may want to look for products that contain neem oil which has been proven to be very effective in controlling blackspot.
Powdery mildew is also another common problem that rosarians encounter. These are small, white, fuzzy patches that spread to the entire leaf while turning the leaves yellow and weakening the plant. There are products on the market that can be bought to help treat this disease. There are also home remedies that can also be done to help this problem.
Hopefully these tips have helped you learn more about your hobby or past-time. With all the information available, there should be hundreds of beautiful blooming rose gardens everywhere in the world and I'm sure one of them could be yours.
Landy Centeno has been a rose gardening enthusiast for over 10 years. He loves to plant his rose garden with his wife and young daughter in the Wi area. To learn more about caring for roses please visit www.roselanding.com
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
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