Caring For Roses.
Rose gardening is not a novice job. It demands skilled hands. But with the right information and knack for the same, anyone can become a master rose gardener. Caring for roses is the most crucial thing in rose gardening. The basic care of roses varies from season to season. Together with it, there are integral factors that need special attention while planning for rose gardening. Hence, caring for roses is a very generic term. It actually involves some specific tasks. These are, the variety to choose, the climate, the area where your rose shall be planted, the soil chemistry, mode and type of fertilization, diseases, recommended pesticides and watering technique.
The variety to choose.
Before starting with the project, you must get a thorough knowledge of the varieties of roses that are hardy and disease resistance. In most cases people go by the color, size and fragrance of roses, without knowing whether the plant will suit the environment it will be placed in. As a consequence, most of the roses die with a slightest change in climate, a delicate mistake in watering or due to increased vulnerability to pests. The word hardy is also dependent on the climate of the place where it is to be planted. But still in general, some roses that are known for their hardiness are Altissimo Rose; which is a climbing variety with a single layer of petals. Another one is Bonica Rose shrub variety with pink color, dense structure and sweet essence. Another is Graham Rose; full petal, yellow colored shrub variety. Others are Marmalade Sky, bright red floribunda variety, New Dawn, large climber variety with light pink colored big flowers and strong fragrance, Starry Night, abundantly flowering hedge variety with single petal layer, Alexandra, Autumn Sunset, Electron, Gemini, Lavender Lassie, Tuscany, Olympiad, etc.
Soil requirement.
Caring For Roses demand a soil chemistry that comprises of a proper balance of some essential nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, manganese, boron, iron and magnesium. The most suitable soil for roses is that which are slightly acidic, having pH level between 6.0 and 6.5. Remember that roses cannot tolerate too acidic soil either. The best thing to do is to test the soil prior to planting. If the soil is too acidic, add some lime or if it's too alkaline, add sulfur so that the right pH level is achieved. The soil must have good drainage so water clogging does not occur. Roses are severely affected by root rot.
Watering the plants.
Roses hate over watering. Rather it is apt to say that watering roses is a confusing issue. On average, two to three times a week of watering is enough for roses under normal climatic conditions. Never allow the soil to become too dry or the plant to wilt. Always ensure that you water roses early in the morning or in the later part of the evening so that evaporation is minimal.
Fertilization.
Roses need to be fed generously during the growing season. This period initiates from early spring and continues throughout winter. But feeding must be stopped a month before the expected frost of the season. A light liquid feed weekly. The basic feeds are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. But some macro nutrients like magnesium, calcium and magnesium and micro nutrients like iron, manganese, zinc, copper, molybdenum, chloride, and boron are also recommended as occasional feed.
Diseases and pest control.
The most raging pests for roses are spider mites. They create holes in the leaves and suck dry all the juices from the tissues of the plant. Lime sulfur is recommended for eradicating them. Rose beetles and rose chafers dig holes in the buds and prevent them from blooming. They can be removed by hand picking and throwing the buds or using rotenone spray. The leaf cutter bees cut oval or round holes on the leaves. Hard pruning the affected area is a way to get rid of them. The most common disease of roses is powdery mildew which occurs due to improper circulation of air within the roots and high moisture content in the soil. Others are fungal infections like canker, black spot, botrytis.
As you can see, Caring For Roses with the right preparation and a little bit of know how, anyone can grow beautiful vivid roses.
John Giddio
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