How to Grow Roses

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About Growing Rose Bushes

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 with plenty of beautiful, long-lasting blooms.. Supplement this attention with additional learning about caring for roses, and you have a winning combination! Roses respond extremely well to the care you provide. So, let’s get into the fun topic of growing roses!

Ideal Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.0.

Hardiness Zones: 2 – 11

Propagating Rose Bushes

Rose bushes are propagated most often by rooting cuttings. It produces a plant genetically identical to the mother plant. And, it produces a new plant quicker and easier than starting new rose plants from seeds.

Also, rose bushes are propagated from seeds.  After the flower bloom dies off, a seedpod called a “Rose Hip” develops. The seeds are then grown, similar to any other plant. However, it takes longer for the seed to sprout and grow.

More on propagating rose bushes.

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How to Grow Rose Bushes

Provide Plenty of Sunlight

This is the first and perhaps most important ingredient. When planning your garden, keep in mind that roses are 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.

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.

Add Fertilizer and 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 regularly. 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 the growth of leaves and roots. Switch over to higher phosphorus as the first buds begin to appear.

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 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.

Add 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 all but the most persistent of weeds. Or, you can lay down black plastic, then add a lighter layer of mulch.

Pruning and Trimming

A rose bush will also respond favorably to a good manicure. Prune your bush regularly. 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 its energies on the remaining stems, rewarding you with bigger rose blooms.

Insect and Disease Protection

Guard against insects and plant disease problems. Roses are susceptible to both insects and disease. Make sure you know the signs and the treatment.

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Additional Resources

People who read this article will also like: 

How to Grow Roses Home Page

Red Rose Day – It’s a gardening holiday to celebrate!

Buy Rose Bushes a huge selection of common, and uncommon, rose bushes

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