Caring for Roses – Tips on How to Best Care for Roses
By Charlie Kaler
It is human nature to surround ourselves with beauty whenever and wherever we can. Throughout the ages one of the most common ways to do so has been with flowers, and the rose has always been one of the most popular, beautiful and beloved flowers of choice to grace our gardens and our lives with.
Unfortunately though, caring for roses has often been considered difficult. But while some rose plant growers and owners consider it hard to care for roses, there are others who wisely take steps to discover the proper care needed for their rose plants so caring for roses becomes not only manageable but also very enjoyable.
Caring for roses does require regular attention to keep the rose healthy and thriving, and once you know the correct steps to care for roses, keeping them looking their best is fun and easy.
Watering Roses
Naturally the first thing people understand is that plants need water, it’s one of the most basic plant necessities, and roses are no different. They will look their best when well watered. Roses should be provided with around 1 inch of water per week.
Most important is that the roots are well considered when watering. The roots of rose plants go deep into the ground and can extract water from sub-soil even though the surface may be dry. For this reason they tolerate dry periods well. Water the roots well to encourage root growth deep into the soil which will make the rose plant more hardy and tolerant to dry spells. If the roses are given only light sprinklings and superficial watering, the roots will only grow shallow in the soil and the plant will be less robust and less healthy in appearance.
Fertilizing Roses
Just as we humans need to eat and drink, so do our rose plants. So caring for roses includes fertilizing as well as watering, but bad fertilizing practices are one of the most common mistakes made.
If planted in good fertile soil, most rose species can go for years without supplementation. Organisms living in the soil produce nutrients which the plants feed on. The over use of man made fertilizer can actually smother the beneficial bugs naturally found in soil. Rose plants can also become dependent on fertilizers making you have to constantly provide them.
Ideally owners should use a slow-release fertilizer as the plant comes out of its dormancy period early in spring. Follow that up with a small amount of fertilizer when the blooms go away. This will help the plant as it stores up energy for the next season. Be sure not to fertilize after mid-summer though.
Both organic and inorganic fertilizers can be used when caring for roses with good results. Organic fertilizers can be digested by the helpful fungus and bacteria found in the soil which helps the soil to maintain its fertility. If using inorganic fertilizer, the most effective combination is 5-10-5 or 4-8-4.
Pruning Roses
Pruning roses is another extremely important element in the care of roses. Usually it’s done in spring, after the dormant period of winter. Pruning essentially removes the broken, dead and diseased wood from the rose plant. This helps air to circulate around the plant and saves the plant from wasting energy on useless or redundant parts.
Another function of pruning is to help in shaping the plant. Many experienced rose plant owners consider this to be a real art form and one of the most enjoyable parts you experience when you care for roses.
The next pruning stage is to prune the actual flowers after the plant has bloomed. Pruning rose flowers by removing the flower buds encourages growth and helps to establish a new plant. All aspects of pruning are vital for the health and longevity of your roses.
The Reward of Caring For Roses
Caring for roses is a bit like riding a bike, easy once you know how. It requires knowledge, patience, skill, commitment and time, but is one of the most rewarding things you can do. There is simply nothing better than to admire a thriving, vibrant, radiant rose with its great beauty, texture and fragrance that you have nurtured with your own hands. Well, maybe there is one thing better, and that is the look of others who pass by and admire your wonderful creations.
