Rose Flower Gardening
Rose gardening is a classic way to add color to your home or landscape. A rose garden is easy to grow and maintain while also providing a beautiful display of colors and hues. Follow this link to find out more about rose gardening…
If any one flower has been universally recognized throughout history, it would have to be the rose. Throughout ancient and modern times the rose has made appearances in movies, art, literature, sports, and in multiple historic events. It wasn't until the 18th century that rose gardening started to appear in Europe and North America, but it has caught on widely and is now very popular throughout the world.
Rose gardening, perhaps because of all the thorns involved, often appears to be difficult to the average or first-time gardener. Rose gardening can be a challenge at times, but it can also be one of the most rewarding gardens around your home. By following a few simple steps, anyone can be on their way to creating a thriving rose garden. Find out more about rose gardening by reading the following articles below.
Rose garden care
Rose gardening can be one of the easiest forms of flower gardening as long as a few easy steps are followed. Rose bushes thrive in lots of sun and in soil that provides a good amount of nutrients. They will also need ample watering at first and added fertilizer as the soil becomes depleted. In addition, the roots of rose bushes should never be allowed to dry out and prefer a soil that is well drained.
In the spring
In the growing season
Roses bushes will need a lot of water and if there isn't enough natural rainfall you'll want to make sure your rose bushes get at least 2 gallons of water once a week. Take care to not wet the rest of the foliage as this can help enable the onset of fungal diseases. Your rose gardening will also be more successful if early plants are given plenty of water.
Rose bushes that are newly planted should also be given a shot of fertilizer immediately following their first blooming period. Compost, manure, and fish emulsion are ideal for rose gardens as roses prosper when presented with organic fertilizing methods. Rose bushes should also be fed a second time before their peak blooming period which typically occurs in June and then again sometime near mid-July. Take care not to water them after August as it will make the rose bushes more unsuitable to winter conditions.
Flowering can be promoted easily when rose gardening by simply pruning off spent flowers just above an outward facing leaf. When done on a cane strong enough to support new flowers, this can make your rose garden more vibrant.
In the winter
To keep your rose garden ready for the next flowering season a minimal amount of care will be needed to prepare them for winter's onset. As the cold season approaches, trim the canes back to about 3 feet and remove any dead or decaying leaves. Mound up the soil around the base of the plant until it is about 1 foot high to protect the roots from extreme differences in temperature.
Diseases and pests
Rose gardens that are thriving will stand much less a chance of attack from diseases and pests. If disease does make an appearance on your rose bushes, a variety of sprays can be used to eliminate them. Anti-transpirants and sulfur-based fungicides will treat many diseases while a mixture of baking soda and horticultural oil has been shown to be an effective way to control powdery mildew. In addition, whole need oil is a new product that in good for controlling multiple diseases and insects.
There are also a variety of sprays that are effective in eliminating, or at least reducing, insects and other pests from rose bushes. Although often overlooked, simply spraying water will prevent many problems with spider mites and aphids. Spray your rose bushes in the morning so they'll have plenty of time to dry out throughout the day. Insecticidal soaps and neem oil extracts are also excellent for removing unwanted pests but use caution when using neem oil sprays. These sprays will affect beneficial insects as well as harmful ones so they shouldn't be sprayed all over.
Rose garden design ideas
When designing your rose garden it's very important to be somewhat familiar with the different types of roses. Although sometimes broken down into different categories, there are generally considered to be four different types of rose bushes.
- Species roses: Species roses are considered natural rose bushes and found growing in the wild throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere. Species roses are an incredibly large group of plants with many various types. These types of roses are usually considered to be the most hardy and resistant to disease but there is wide range of variability and not all of them will be as hardy as others. Bloom colors for species rose bushes usually range between white to crimson and produce flowers with five petals. Species roses may not ideal in every circumstance but they are often used in rose gardens because they are easy to maintain.
- Old roses: Old roses are mostly made up five classes of bushes called Gallica, Alba, Centifolia, Mosses, and Damask. These are considered the most temperamental of those roses that are cultivated and were popular in Europe before the 18th century. Ideal for rose gardening in cold areas, old roses will grow in USDA hardiness zones three through five and produce very fragrant blooms. Old roses also include repeat bloom, hardy old roses that offer winter-hardiness, disease resistance, and beautiful blooms. They won't bloom as much, if at all, in the summer but, when combined with other types of roses, make an excellent addition to any rose garden. Portlands, Hybrid Perpetuals, and Bourbons are the different types of these.
- Modern roses: The modern age of rose gardening is considered to have occurred when Jean-Baptiste Guillot produced a new class of rose in 1867. The rose was called La France and it created a class of roses called hybrid tea. The most popular modern rose classes are miniatures, grandiflora, floribunda, and the original hybrid tea.
- Shrub roses: Shrub roses are a widely encompassing category that includes everything from hybrids developed in 1800s through the 1900s. The category name is somewhat of a misnomer as all roses are considered shrubs, but shrub roses are considered to be those roses that are noted for their winter survivability as well as their disease resistance and well-rounded shape. They flower very freely and produce and abundant supply of fragrant blooms throughout the summer. Although often seen in rose gardens, shrub roses are also often used in mixed setting such as hedges or borders.
Rose bushes produce a wide range of bloom colors and this should also be taken into consideration when designing your rose garden. Cool and warm colored flowers should be grouped together but that doesn't necessarily mean that roses of the same type need to stay together. Whatever the case, rose bushes need to be in an area where the eye will perceive them as fitting into the other surrounding features. Hedges, as do borders, provide an excellent way to incorporate roses into the design of your landscape and create symmetry as well.
Roses also work well when accented with other plants or foliage. Plants that produce tiny flowers will complement rose bushes well as will flowering that produces similarly colored blooms. Using the height of your rose bushes and surrounding flowers can also be used to create unity and draw the entire garden together at a central focal point. Container gardening will also work well for rose bushes but they will need large pots that should clearly be part of the overall landscape design.
Rose garden FAQ
How do I grow a rose bush?
After purchasing your rose bush, dig an appropriate sized hole and put the rose bush in. Refill the hole with a mix of soil and compost and/or fertilizer. Water it regularly during the first two months and use rose fertilizer as called for.
Can I make a rose bed?
Of course; rose gardening can easily be applied to a flower bed. Sunlight will be important so they should be planted in an area where they will receive at least six full hours of direct sun each day. You'll want to situate your roses so that the tallest bushes are in the middle and fanning out with the smallest ones on the outside of the rose bed. Planting your rose garden in this fashion will give the best appearance while also making it easier to avoid thorns when caring for your bushes.
Can roses be grown in containers?
Rose bushes can also be grown in containers but the size of the containers is an important factor. Full-size rose bushes will need a container at least 18 inches deep and miniature rose bushes will require a container at least 12 inches deep. The container will also need to be raised to allow for adequate drainage and compost and fertilizer will need to be used to provide the required nutrients.
What are the best types of fertilizer for rose gardening?
Roses require a lot of nutrients and will demand an appropriate fertilizer if it's meant to thrive. Fertilizer should be applied when leaves start to form and again after the first batch of flowers disappears. Special rose fertilizers are made and can be purchased online or in many nurseries. A fertilizer high in potassium and phosphorus will make the rose bush more winter-hardy while avoiding any fertilizer with nitrogen before the first frost will encourage growth at the proper time.
What is the best way to protect my rose bushes during the winter?
Caring for your rose bush during the winter varies from climate to climate but there are a few general rules to follow as guidelines. The bud union needs to be protected from cold winds and major changes in freezing and thawing. This is done in rose gardening by mounding up the soil after the first frost to about one foot in height. This will protect the bud union from the extreme cold temperatures of winter. Rose bushes that are in containers can simply be moved inside to an unheated space and watered infrequently to prevent the roots from drying out.
Can rose gardening be done organically?
It can but it is a little more difficult. Typically, rose gardeners will need to be fairly experienced or knowledgeable to avoid using chemical sprays or chemical-based fertilizers. Many different types of roses are resistant to diseases, as well as being very hardy, and these would be the best species for use with organic rose gardening. Bone meal will help the rose bushes thrive and baking soda mixed with water has been shown to help deter the formation of mildew.
What are the most common rose pests?
Aphids can be a nuisance in rose gardening and will often need to be controlled. They are often brown, green, or reddish in color and will feed on the sap of new growth as it is produced and when it is the tenderest. Spraying water on aphids will usually knock them off and they can also be removed with your hands. Ladybugs are also natural predators to aphids and rose bushes often thrive in areas where ladybugs are present.
Learn rose gardening
Rose gardening is one of the most rewarding flower gardens to grow. Rose bushes produce more blooms, quicker, and for longer, than most other flowering perennials or shrubs. The blooms that rose bushes produce have created a steady, passionate following of gardeners whose style has created its own mystique. This reputation has left many average gardeners overwhelmed with the thought of how to learn rose gardening successfully.
Successful rose gardening is easier than the rumors would have you believe. With a few simple tips, roses can be grown in many parts of the world successfully and are hardy enough to survive year after year with a minimal amount of care. To learn rose gardening in a few simple steps:
- There are many various strains and hybrids of roses but until you become more experienced, pick rose bushes that are hardy and disease-resistant. Many of the newer roses are created with this in mind and it should be easy to find appropriate colors and forms that also have this characteristic.
- Your rose bushes will need lots of sun. At least six hours of direct sun a day is optimal. Rose gardening can be done in areas that receive les direct sunlight but the number and duration of blooms will be reduced.
- Plant your roses in an area that has appropriate soil. Rose bushes require a lot of nutrients and a soil that is enriched with compost or humus will work best. The soil should also be well-drained but hold some moisture so that the roots don't completely dry out.
- Successful rose gardening also requires ongoing maintenance and care. Rose bushes will need ample amounts of water and compost or fertilizer as well as pruning to thrive.
Roses grow best when they are planted in cool and moist conditions that typically occur in spring or fall. They should be planted immediately when the soil becomes workable in either of those seasons and watered on a regular basis for about the first two months or until they take hold and are established.
There are three main types of rose bushes available for planting;
- Roses that are bare-root are dormant and sold during the winter and early spring. They should be planted as soon as the ground warms up and the soil become workable.
- Container-grown roses, as the name implies, are typically grown in containers at a nursery. Usually they are available for rose gardening in the spring and are already blooming or budding when purchased.
- Prepackaged roses are another type of bare-root rose bush that is packaged in a container that has moisture retention material inside to help the roots stay moist.
Whatever type of rose bushes you are planting, your rose garden will have the best chance of thriving by following a these steps. Remember, rose gardening is easy to learn and when in doubt, research will answer most questions.
- You'll need to dig a hole large enough that allows for the size of the rose bush but will also allow for the roots to spread.
- When you refill the planting hole, make sure to mix some compost, humus, or peat moss into the soil.
- Water your newly planted rose bushes until they become well-established.
- Soak bare-root roses in water before planting. The bud should be 1 inch below the soil after planted.
- Make sure to cut of dead and decaying plant leaves. Long or damaged roots should also be pruned before planting.
- Container-grown roses should be left in its package if it will be planted within 10 days of purchase. Keep it moist and plant as soon as you can.