Rose gardening is an extremely rewarding part of the home landscape that has somehow gotten a reputation for being difficult to maintain and grow.  Don’t let this rumor discourage you, because while rose gardening can be challenging, once you get started, it is an extremely enjoyable experience.

Rose gardening is not [...]]]>

Spider mite. Image via Wikipedia

Rose gardening is an extremely rewarding part of the home landscape that has somehow gotten a reputation for being difficult to maintain and grow.  Don’t let this rumor discourage you, because while rose gardening can be challenging, once you get started, it is an extremely enjoyable experience.

Rose gardening is not that much different than any other type of plant gardening. Good, healthy soil and a prime planting area is the most important thing. The planting methods are the same as any other shrub whether your roses are bare-root or container-grown.  Make sure the spot you choose has good drainage, gets plenty of sunlight, and will not overcrowd your roses.

Before planting, any dead leaves and thin or decayed shoots need to be cut off. Any damaged or very long roots also need to be trimmed.  Soak bare-root roses in water about 10-12 hours to restore moisture in the roots before planting and water the soil before planting as well. Make sure the hole you dig is large enough for the root growth of the rose and it’s also a good idea to use compost or mulch.

Roses need the same things as other plants; they just need more of it. One of the most important things to remember in rose gardening is that roses are heavy feeders and will need several fertilizer applications.  Fertilizing should be started in early spring and discontinued in early fall.  Don’t over-fertilize (follow fertilizer instructions) and water after each feeding.

The main thing to remember in rose gardening is to water, water, and water some more. Roses require large amounts of water; a thorough watering twice a week should be enough.

An essential part of any flower gardening project is pruning because it increases blooms and encourages healthy plant growth.  Different varieties of roses have different instructions for pruning, so you might want to read up on your rose types and see what is suggested.

Following is a list of pests and diseases to look out for, along with solutions to keep your roses healthy.

1. Black Spot

This disease appears as circular black spots with fringed edges on leaves. They cause the leaves to yellow. Remove the infected foliage and pick up any fallen leaves around the rose. Artificial sprays may be used to prevent or treat this kind of rose disease.

2. Malformed young canes

This is caused by powdery mildew, a fungal disease that covers leaves, stems and buds with wind spread white powder. It makes the leaves curl and turn purple. Spray with Funginex or Benomyl to treat this fungal disease.

3. Rust

This disease is characterized by orange-red blisters that turn black in fall. It can survive the winter and will then attack new sprouts in the spring. Collect and discard leaves that are infected in fall. Treating with a Benomyl or Funginex spray every 7-10 days may help.

4. Stunted leaves and flowers

This is caused by spider mites and they are a common rose gardening pest. They are tiny yellow, red or green spiders found on the underside of leaves where they suck juices. The application of Orthene or Isotox may help in treating this infestation.

5. Weak and mottled leaves with tiny white webs under them

This is caused by aphids. They are small soft-bodied insects that usually brown, green or red. Often clustered under leaves and flower buds, they suck plant juices from tender buds. Malathion or diazinon spray may help roses to survive these bugs.

6. Unopened or deformed flowers.

Thrips could be the reason behind this rose gardening problem. They are slender, brown-yellow bugs with fringed wings that also suck juices from flower buds. Cut and discard the infested flowers. Orthene and malathion may also treat this problem.

Adam Faston is an organic gardening enthusiast and a lover of the
great outdoors! He runs a website offering Gardening Help on a
variety of different gardening and landscape related topics at:
http://www.gardeninghelponline.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/rose-gardening-tips-for-successful-rose-gardening-1485100.html

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Roses are beautiful. They are colourful and can definitely brighten a room. They come in so many different colors and are so attractive to look at. Folks enjoy giving them to those they love and most people love to receive them also.

They can be given for many alternative reasons. There are lover [...]]]>

Image via Wikipedia

Roses are beautiful. They are colourful and can definitely brighten a room. They come in so many different colors and are so attractive to look at. Folks enjoy giving them to those they love and most people love to receive them also.

They can be given for many alternative reasons. There are lover roses and closeness roses and many variations in between. They make great Valentines presents, gifts and even a ‘just because I like you’ gift.

But what about those of us who love to grow roses. Growing them means you can enjoy them for much longer then a couple of days before they die. Roses take some special care to flourish. In this piece we’ll give you a few tips for caring for roses.

The 1st and perhaps most critical step in caring for roses is to make certain the roses you have selected will grow in your area. Not all roses are meant for assorted climates. Some may need a different climate then where you live.

The very next step is to decide where you need to plant them. Roses require 5 hours of sun each day. When you plant them you wish to give them plenty of room to breathe. Also ensure the soil is well drained.

Another excellent tip in caring for roses is to feed them. It’s great to make a mix of alfalfa meal, blood meal and fishmeal and put it at the base of your roses. Then employ a hoe to mix it in the dirt. Use mulch around your roses. This keeps nasty tiny animals and pests away from your roses. do not past due it because you do not need to suffocate your roses. They have to be ready to breathe.

To have your roses last all summer you must prune them. After your rose blooms and has begun to fade then cut at an angle right above the 5 leaflets that you will find. This will permit the roses to flower again.

Find a chemical to use on the roses, which will keep them from getting black spot. And another good tip is to take a tablespoon of baking soda and 2 and a half big spoons of plant oil and mix it and spray it on your roses every couple of weeks.

If you try this advice you will end up staring out your window at some gorgeous roses all summer long.

For more great info on easy rose-growing tips, come by Easy Rose Care for help. Whether or not you are planting your first roses, picking varieties for smell or color, or transplanting roses in your eco-friendly rose garden, we will help you with expert rose care advice.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/caring-for-roses-a-howto-guide-1470673.html

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Soil does not only serve as the anchor for your roses, it is also the [...]]]>

Successful rose garden care starts with the soil.  Although there are a variety of factors that influence the growth of a healthy rose plant, starting with the best soil for your roses will make it easier for you in the end.

Soil does not only serve as the anchor for your roses, it is also the main source of nutrition for your plants.  In this article, we discuss with you the considerations to keep in mind when preparing the soil.  These are: pH level, type of soil, and mulch.

The pH Level

A soil’s pH level can be tested by purchasing home testing kits from the nearest gardening supply center.  If you are inexperienced in this area, it is better to send a sample of your garden soil to testing laboratories designed to do exactly just that.  The pH level is important because it determines the acidity or alkalinity of a certain soil sample.

Low pH levels indicate that the soil is too acidic for rose garden care, while pH levels on the higher end of the spectrum signify alkalinity.  The perfect soil pH level if you want to grow healthy roses is somewhere between 6.5 and 7.0, where 7.0 is neutral—it is neither acidic nor alkaline.

Unfortunately, the ideal pH level rarely occurs for most types of garden soil.  In colder regions, for instance, such as in the Northern states of the United States, the soil’s pH level is a little too low for the best care of roses.  But this can be remedied by digging in ground up limestone to increase its alkalinity.

On the other hand, soils with higher pH levels can be made more acidic by adding some sulfur or sphagnum peat in it.  These amendments to soil’s pH level should be checked periodically, at least once every year, to make sure they remain near the 6.5 to 7.0 neutral mark.

The Type of Soil

There are two main types of soil: clay and sandy soil.  Common knowledge has it that clay soil is the best type for the care of roses because it contains minerals like feldspar and mica that retain high amounts of water.  On the contrary, soil that has too much clay in it is not good for roses because too much minerals block the passage of water and air within.

Sandy soil, on the other hand, is the opposite of clay.  It is composed of silica or quartz grains, allowing too little moisture retention and too much aeration.

Therefore, the best type of soil when growing roses is a cross between clay and sandy soil because it is rich in nutrients and holds just the right amount of moisture.  In fact, most un-amended garden soils are a combination of clay and sand.  You just have to work in your own improvements to make your soil as ideal as possible.  And the best thing to do that is by adding organic matter which further enriches the soil to keep your plants growing and healthy.

Organic matter is mostly made of manure and compost, which you can make by adding together amounts of biodegradable waste such as coffee grounds, fruit and vegetables peelings, eggshells, shredded bark, and the like.  Another fine type of organic matter for rose garden care is peat moss, a fibrous moss specie that holds water and air in the soil effectively.

Mulch

The best way for successful care of roses is by mimicking the forest environment where plants naturally grow and flourish even without the help and training of human hands.  Unfortunately, a cultivated garden is not the best environment for your rose plants.

Too much summer heat causes the soil to dry up, thus reducing the nutrients accessible to your plants, and when the rains come rolling in, water gushing through the garden patches can cause erosion.  There is one solution to this problem, though—mulching.

Organic mulches that are made of leaves, grass clippings, wood chips, bark chips, and peat moss are the best for your roses.  Mulch is the perfect way to simulate the “forest floor” environment to insulate your roses from extremely hot weather and to absorb the running rainwater that may cause erosion and the growth of fungi and bacteria.  The breakdown of organic matter also stimulates a healthy environment for insects and earthworm, which encourages further soil enrichment.

As we have promised, we have presented to you the factors that determine a soil’s viability for rose planting.  You do not have to look for an area to find the best soil for your roses, you can simply make the soil ideal.  We hope that this article helped you in determining what kind of actions you can take in preparing your own rose garden soil.  Now it’s time to get out into the garden and do some little digging and testing.  Happy gardening!

Catherine Martin comes from a long line of passionate rose lovers, growers and enthusiasts. As an author, she is committed to demystifying the common rose, so that all who wish to can grow them easily. For more great information on the best rose soil, visit http://www.rosegardeningexpert.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/secrets-on-how-to-creating-the-best-rose-soil-to-ensure-excellent-rose-garden-care-1452835.html

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