Rose Care and Feeding, Fertilizers for Roses
Good news for gardeners...... roses is are not hard to grow. Anyone can grow
these beautiful bushes. With a little loving care and attention, you
will be amply rewarded. Supplement this attention with additional learning
about caring for rose, and you have a winning combination! Roses respond
extremely well to the care you provide. And, roses like regular applications
of fertilizer.
Here is the key ingredients to growing a healthy, productive rose plant,
whether grown singularly or in a rose garden.
1. Plenty of Sunshine: This is the first and foremost ingredient .
When planning your garden, keep in mind that roses like full sun. If that
is not available, roses will tolerate partial shade. My rose garden is in
partial shade, and they grow quite well.
2. Rich, loose soil: Roses require a lot of food and nutrients. When
planting roses, make sure to mix in generous portions of compost and manure
into the native garden soil. If this is not available, add store bought peat
moss and cow manure.
3. Provide plenty of nutrients: Roses consume significant amounts
of nutrients. What you add to your soil will get them off to a great start,
but they will favorably respond to additional fertilizer added year after
year. You've likely heard tales of fellow gardeners burying the remains of
fish, or other animals, under their rose bush with stellar results. These
stories are largely true. We do caution you that while your roses will respond
favorably, a fish under your plant can cause the neighborhood cat to create
a very unfavorable side effect, and likely damage to the root system.
Did you know? The middle number in common fertilizer is Phosphorus.
This is the chemical element in the plant world that promotes flower blooming.
When growing flowers, a fertilizer heavy in phosphorus will help promote
those big, beautiful blooms that growers seek. Most garden stores will have
several varieties of fertilizers and ones specifically for roses. When you
read the ingredients, you will see the higher phosphorus levels.
Fertilize on a regular basis. We recommend every two to three weeks. Follow
the directions on the fertilizer box or bag. Use a higher nitrogen fertilizer
at the beginning of the season to promote growth of leaves and roots. Switch
over to higher phosphorus as the first buds begin to appear.
4. Pour on the Water: Roses like lots of water. This does not mean
they like to get their feet wet. As mentioned above, they like loose soil,
which drains well. The right amount of moisture held in the soil compliments
of the compost you provide. Adjust your watering to add more for sandy soils,
and less for clay soil.
We also recommend you water at the base of the plant and avoid getting the
leaves wet. Hot humid weather is a breeding ground for rose diseases. Adding
water to the leaves during humid weather will help promote disease. In addition,
if you have applied insecticide or fungicides, you are washing it away.
Tip: Place a drip or soaker hose around your rose garden and cover
with mulch.
5. Mulch for Weed Control: Do not let weeds ruin the beauty of your
rose garden. In addition to "stealing the show", weeds will rob your rose
bush of water and nutrients. Avoid this by applying a heavy layer of mulch.
Organic mulches are preferred as they will convert over time to compost,
further enriching your soil. You can add several inches, effectively blocking
but all but the most persistent of weeds. Or, you can lay down black plastic,
then add a lighter lay of mulch.
6. Prune and trim: A rose bush will also respond favorably to a good
manicure. Prune your bush on a regular basis. A well maintained bush has
a full, yet not shaggy appearance. Allow several main stems to grow and develop.
Allow enough room between the stems for good air circulation. This will help
to avoid plant diseases. It will also cause the plant to focus it's energies
on the remaining stems, rewarding you with bigger rose blooms.
7. Guard against insects and disease:
Roses are susceptible to both insects and disease. Make sure you know
the signs and the treatment.
More Information:
Buy
Rose Bushes a huge selection of common, and uncommon, rose bushes
|
