Delicate Rose Care

We've been very blessed with plant breeders who give us roses that grow well in adverse conditions and bloom basically from early summer to first frost. Proper plant nutrition is easy and simple to provide with the use of complete plant food. Plant food supplies all the needed vital elements that is needed from the soil.

Insect and disease problems with your rose care can be prevented easily with regular use of insecticide-fungicide that controls most chewing insects, sucking insects, and fungus diseases. Being a successful rose grower is attainable with these aids and a lot of determination.

Buying good plants or better known as good stock is a must. Preferably No. 1, two years old, field grown and budded plants. Plants that are not pruned should have 3 or more heavy 18-inch canes and pruned plants should have canes with a diameter of at least 1/4 inch at the top. Plants potted in tar paper pots are preferred by many gardeners since they can be transplanted most any time of the year.

When planting, select a sunny, well-drained location. Trim off all broken and bruised roots, cut top growth back to 6 to 8 inches. Dig planting holes at least 6 inches deeper than needed for the plant roots and make the holes large enough so the roots will not crowd or bend.   Be sure to place a handful of small rocks or pebbles in the bottom of holes for drainage. Mix 1 tablespoonful of fertilizer with the soil placed over the drainage material. Cover this mixture with plain soil, bringing the level to desired planting depth. Make a mound in the center to receive the plant. Set the plant roots over this mound and spread roots then fill in with the soil.  Firm the soil by pressing tightly 2 or 3 times while filling the hole.

Rose care and feeding is very important. The first feeding should come in early spring as soon as leaf buds begin to swell. Clear away the mulch and work plant food into soil the around the plant. Use 1 rounded tablespoon of fertilizer per plant unless tea roses in which you would cut that amount in half. Second feeding should be made at the same rate and immediately following the first heavy bloom. Third feeding is also at same rate and should be made in late summer with the exceptions of northern areas not later than August 15.

In the southern areas where blooming extends into October and November, a fourth feeding is advised about the first of October.  Many growers incorporate a regular monthly feeding in their rose care program during the growing season with good results. Controlling diseases and insects is easy with the regular use of chemicals.  Chemicals control most fungus diseases and chewing insects.  Regular dusting every week to ten days will make these problems easier to handle.

When watering, soak the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches.  Cultivation is a definite must to eliminate weeds and keep the soil loose.  Mulching during the summer months will eliminate weeds, reduce moisture evaporation and the necessity of cultivation.  Every two to three weeks mulches should be applied before roses come into bloom.
When pruning, the bush types should be pruned during the early spring when the leaf buds begin to swell but before the growth starts.

As far as winter is concerned, it's the alternating freezing and thawing that is destructive to your roses.  Winter mulching with straw or peat moss is recommended with the exception of the extreme southern sections of the United States.  Pull up the soil around each plant to basically 6 inches after the first frost.  Once the ground is frozen, mulch again.