A garden full of roses

The common rose has managed to get a reputation for being extremely high maintenance and only for expert gardeners. If you love roses , you should not let this put you off however. Rose gardening can certainly be difficult but once you understand the basic methods it should not be too much of a problem.

On beginning rose gardening, you must decide on the variety of rose you prefer, and this doesn't just mean the color. There is a large variety of different container-grown, pre-packaged and bare root roses. You can purchase a bare-root rose during winter and in the early part of spring. Never plant them while there is still a chance of frost, as you'll need to work the soil as easily as possible. The pre-packaged rose will be exactly the same, but sold in a container filled with a moisture retaining substance of some sort. Slightly later in the year you'll be able to purchase container-grown roses that will already have buds, or even flowers if you purchase later on in spring.

Rose gardening will involve exactly the same basic planting methods as any other kind of gardening. You should make sure that you have the best position in the garden, with soil in the best of health. And while you may have a container-grown or bare root roses, you should treat them like any small plants. The position will need to be well drained and in full sun, and you should not plant your roses too close together. If any of the plant has died off before you plant it, then you must gently clip away the pieces.

It is also very important to do this with unhealthy or unduly lengthy root sections. Bare root roses should be placed in water for at least 10 to 12 hours to make sure they have not dried out and the soil should also be adequately watered. Also make sure that you are not putting the rose in a hole that is too small for the root ball. A good layer of surface compost will certainly help to give the rose the extra nutrition that, as with any other plant, will be necessary in the early stages of growth.

Although roses are generally plants like any other, they do need a touch more attention. Roses grow extremely fast and as a result they require regular feeding with rather more usage of fertilizer. You must use fertilizer well before the growing season and stop just after the end of summer. In rose gardening, it is important to not apply to much fertilizer, make sure the instructions are followed closely and be sure to add water after each application. Roses do drink a lot of water and will require a generous quantity around two times every week.

A traditional part of rose gardening involves regularly pruning the plant. This makes the plants grow new branches, creating a far more bushy appearance, with more flowering heads. The exact way you should prune your rose will depend on what type it is and you should be able to find information on the precise method in reference books and from the internet.

To sum up, probably the most important aspect of rose gardening is to make sure that the plant never runs out of water. Remember also that rose gardening will also involve far greater quantities of fertilizer - nutrition is incredibly important for these flowers. Finally, remember that the healthiest rose plants are those that are regularly pruned and shaped by the rose gardener. Rose gardening may well involve a little extra effort and attention, but they are also one of the classic garden plants and most people feel that no garden is complete without roses blooming in summer.

Resources:
www.roseflowergarden.com
www.organicrosegardening.com
www.rose-works.com