How to Take Care of Roses

Do you want to see your roses thriving? Well, these beautiful flowering shrubs will require care for their overall health and vigor. If you are a beginner, you may be thinking caring for roses is a complicated task. Fortunately, roses don’t require high-maintenance as it is often thought to be. Read on to find out the basics that will transform and elevate your rose garden.

Watering Tip # 1

Rule of thumb: Water around the base of the plant, and make sure the roses get about 2 inches of water per week. To avoid frequent and shallow watering, it is generally recommended to use a soaker hose because it delivers water directly to the roots, keeping the leaves dry. In case of a big bed of roses, it would be best to install an in-ground system.

What is the best time to water roses?

Since roses are very vulnerable to fungal diseases, watering should be done in the early morning to give the excess water on the leaves enough time to evaporate.

Pruning Tip # 2

This is an important practice that is worth considering when caring for your roses. Pruning is a straightforward job, but it requires using the right garden tool such as sharp clippers. Just remove the unattractive parts of the plant that catches your critical eye. It could be:

• Damaged wood: Make sure to cut it back into about 1 inch of healthy wood.
• Dead wood: Dead canes should be removed downwards the ground level.
• Misplaced stems: Get rid of stems that are taking off in the wrong direction, rubbing together, or trailing on the ground.

Note: The remaining growth buds should be kept facing away from the center of the plant. This will help keep branches growing away from the plant.

Feeding Roses Tip # 3

It is very important to feed your roses in the early spring, especially when plant emerges from dormancy and their leaves begin to grow. Experts often recommend using an all-purpose garden fertilizer that has balanced amounts Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorus. Be sure to water your plant with a tablespoon of Epsom salt that is dissolved in a gallon of water. This will help to keep the canes strong. And even though there are several fine fertilizers for roses that are advertised out there as Rose Food, they are not necessary.

Mulching Tip # 4

A 3-inch covering of mulch can help retain moisture, which helps save on the amount of watering you need to do. It also stops the greedy weeds from coming up in rose beds and robbing the moisture and nutrients intended for rose plants. Rose gardeners are usually advised to use organic mulch such as compost, grass, wood chips, etc. because it helps add nutrients to the soil and improves its texture.

It is best to apply the mulch in the early spring, and the mulch used should be fully replaced each spring to control the possible diseases. If your roses are planted in areas with warmer winters, the best time to apply mulch would be just before the weeds start to grow.

There you have it. Caring for your roses is just as simple as counting 1, 2, 3…!