Rose Bush Care & Feeding Your Roses
Roses are surprisingly easy plants to grow and ones that will supply your home with beautiful vases full of colorfull blooms. There is also an incredible diversity in the types of roses that can be planted and enjoyed. You only need to remember three things to achieve successful rose bush care. They are the type or variety you select, how much and how often to feed and water, and last but not the least is pruning. Purchasing a good book like the Ultimate Book of Roses is nice to have at your fingertips for quick referencing. It will list names of various roses and which ones are the hardiest with great photos.
It is vital that you choose the right rose variety. Depending on where you live and how much sun your yard gets each day will determine which variety will survive easily. Some types can be problematic due to their tendancy towards disease and fungus. On the other hand their are certain roses that can withstand a bit of abuse so to speak. If you are just staking out a rose garden make sure they are well spaced for maximum growth potential. Also, find a location that receives adequate sun.
A main consideration is watering and feeding for taking care of roses. It is recommended that one saturate the root in the morning being careful not to shower the plant or blooms. When a rose bush has just been planted it is advisable to water it everyday for the first two weeks. After that a good soaking once a week should be sufficient unless the weather is extremely hot and dry. Mulch, bark or straw can be placed around the roses bushes to keep the soil moist and discourage weed growth.
Once Spring arrives feed and fertilize and then repeat once a month after that until Fall. Feed the roses with rose food fertilizer that should contain a mix of fish emulsion and manure. It is adamant to stop fertilizing your roses during the winter months.
The biggest mistake most growers make in their effort to give good rose bush care is pruning. Just prune off the dead flowers or limbs. Cut the dead flowers down to the third or fourth branch or node (the small reddish lines). In January or February they should be cut down to two feet to encourage fresh lush growth in the spring.
For more detailed information, the Ultimate Book of Roses will definitely answer all your questions.