“We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today.”

Planting & Location: Plant in an area that receives full sun (at least 6 hours); preferably morning sun. Roses need very good drainage, so plant in a raised bed, about 6 to 12 inches above the ground.  The growing beds need to be a well-draining soil.  Make sure provide the correct amount of spacing based on the type of rose plant to avoid over crowding when they mature.   When planting the hole should be twice as wide as the container and deep enough so that the bud union is two inches above ground. To encourage good root growth put a handful of bone meal at the bottom of the hole, and then mix some in with the prepared soil.   Then fill in the soil around the root ball and water it down. 

Watering:   Roses like their soil evenly moist not soggy.  AQs with most plants its best to water in the morning and avoid watering the leaves and trunk.  As moisture on the leaves provides the perfect conditions for black spot and other fungus & disease.  Place to to three inches of  shredded bark to help protect them from extreme weather while helping to retain the moisture and blocking out weeds. 

Fertilizing: After planting wait until after the first bloom cycle to fertilize them to prevent burning the young roots.   Fertilize monthly from March to October with a good  fertilizer.   When applying solid fertilizer, rake mulch back to the dripline, then evenly spread the fertilizer over the exposed soil. Push the mulch back over the area, then water the bed well.  With liquid fertilizer you can spray while watering, just following the directions on the package.

Maintenance: You can reduce the risk of pest and diseases by regularly deadheading spent blooms and removing dead or diseased leaves before they fall to the ground. When cutting off the dead blooms, cut the cane at a 45 degree angle at the juncture of an outwardly facing 5-leaf leaflet, as this is where a new cane will come from. 

Pruning:  Different types of ross require different methods.  

• Pruning Antique Roses: Hard pruning is never necessary, however you can lightly prune for shape.  It is a good idea to cut canes that are crossing or growing into the center of the bush. If you do, prune after a bloom cycle and don't cut back more than a third of the bush. 
• Modern Roses: Prune them around mid Feburary.  First, cut any dead or diseased canes. Second, cut away crossing canes. Third, cut canes that are smaller than pencil size. Finally, pick the best 4-5 canes in a vase shape and cut the rest of the canes away. Remember to cut canes all the way back and don't leave stubs at the base of the plant. 

Pest & Disease Prevention: If you follow the instructions above - proper location, keeping water off leaves, using mulch, feeding regularly, clearing away debris - you are much less likely to encounter these problems.  If you do have a problem that gets out of hand, we have good organic fungicides & insecticides like Revitalize and Safer Soap. 

Help: If you need help with diagnosis, feel free to bring in a cutting of your rose (in a sealed bag, please) and we'll help you find the best solution. We’re always here to answer any other questions you have about roses.