How to Care for a Rose Bush

6/2/2005

You ve spent way too much money buying roses at your florist. Now you are toying with the idea of growing some of those fragrant flowers in your own backyard. But if you thought that picking out cut roses was hard, buying rose bushes for planting is even harder. Why? Because there are so many available that the simple task of knowing what to choose can become quite challenging. But following a few of these simple guidelines from gardening experts will make the task much more manageable. In no time, you will see that everything will be coming up roses!

Learn the lingo.

There are so many different types of roses -- and we re not just talking color -- that you need to know what they are. The hybrid tea rose (large single blooms, usually on long stems) is the most common and is probably the one that comes to mind when you picture the flower. But there are also climbers (roses that grow on walls and arbors), miniatures (smaller versions of roses), and trees (bushes that have a sturdy trunk). Once you know some of the terms associated with roses, it ll be much easier to make decisions about which ones to grow. To learn more, visit Web sites such as rosemagazine.com or rosarian.com which provide glossaries with definitions of rose terms.

Know your climate.

Like with all plants and flowers, certain types flourish in different climates. You can ask your local horticulturist about your climate zone. Knowing your zone will narrow the field of which roses are best suited for your garden, during what time of year you should plant them, and how deep into the soil they should go.

Learn the differences between roses.

Let s start with fragrance. Don t all roses smell the same? Nope. Some types barely have a scent, while others, like the antique rose, are extremely fragrant. When shopping, close your eyes and inhale to see which scents work for you. Also check out the plant s bloom times. (While some roses, like the hybrid tea, bloom within eight weeks of planting, others don t flower until the second season.) Some only bloom once in a year, which results in one gorgeous showing. Others are repeat bloomers a few times a year, so you ll have flowers for a longer period of time. Again, determine what you want and what s important to you.

Consider color.

Determine what color and look works best for your landscape. For instance, if you have a yellow house, you might not want a yellow rose bush in your front yard since the color might not stand out. Red roses, however, would really pop out against a yellow backdrop.

Keep them healthy.

When picking a place in your garden, choose your spot wisely. The flower should get six hours of sunlight a day, good air circulation, good drainage, and rich soil. It s important to make sure your plant is getting enough water -- one inch a week, either from you or mother nature. Also keep the plant and area surrounding it free from shrubs and debris such as leaves or twigs.