CARING FOR YOUR ROSES
Caring for roses is not a difficult task, but there are some basics that if
followed will help to ensure a successful growing season.
Watering
The main goal when it comes to watering your roses is to provide the plants
with one inch of water per week. Some growers find a rain gauge a very helpful
tool in deciding how much water to add to the rainfall which supplements
occasional watering.
The goal for roses is to develop a root system; it is important that the
roots grow as deeply into the soil as is possible. By making the mistake of
too-frequent watering, the plant can develop too-shallow roots and will not be
able to overcome the drying of the upper layer of soil during times of drought.
Many of the diseases that plague roses thrive in cool, damp conditions. By
ensuring that the rose leaves are dry by dusk, the threat of these diseases can
be kept at a minimum. The best way to ensure that the leaves are kept dry is to
either water, deeply, in the early morning, or to water the soil around the
plant using a drip system.
(Newly planted roses should be monitored closely for the first year; they
will not have had time enough to establish a root system.)
Fertilizing
The key to adequate fertilizing of your roses is to read and follow the
directions marked on the package of a good quality rose fertilizer. Applied
once in the spring and then according to instructions, the fertilizer will keep
the roses fed and nourished throughout the entire growing season.
It is best to feed roses lightly, but often. They are by nature heavy
feeders, and draw many of their required nutrients right from the soil.
Unfortunately, many of the nutrients leave the soil very quickly, thus, the
importance of feeding often.
The proper Ph, a measure of acidity or alkalinity in the soil, will help the
rose in its intake of nutrients. Roses prefer a slightly acidic soil, with a
range of 6.0 to 6.6, on a scale of one to fourteen.
A good source for Ph information can be found at your local county extension
office. They can perform a Ph test, and provide you with a soil makeup, also. It’s recommended to have these soil tests performed every few years; a rose
garden will thrive if the Ph levels are maintained at a proper point. If you find your soil too acidic, trying adding limestone. On the other
hand, if you find it too alkaline, add compost. By following these steps in planting and caring for roses, the plants stand
a much better chance at surviving the harshness of winters, and thriving into
the next growing season.