Roses are lovely, smell amazing, and are a favorite flower for many people. With a little care, you can grow striking rose bushes in your backyard to provide you with gorgeous cuttings to decorate your home.
Let It Shine
Roses absolutely adore the sun. They need at least a full 6-8 hours of sunlight every day. Be sure to plant them in a location that stays bright and sunny. Without adequate sun, your roses won't produce the big, beautiful blooms you know and love. They are also more susceptible to diseases and pest infestations if they are planted in the shade.
Prepare Your Soil
Add compost or manure to your soil to help your roses off to a good start. Roses need a good, rich soil that is well-drained; avoid the low areas of your yard. Once you plant your roses, the soil mixed with compost or manure will promote your bush to grow and develop feeder roots, which transport nutrients from the soil and help the rest of the rose bush absorb water.
Support Your Roses
Roses, like tomato plants, need to be supported to stay vertical. Depending on the type of roses you plant, you will need to either provide poles for climbing or stakes to secure your stems. When you secure your roses to the stakes, make sure you don't tie them on too tightly or you could damage your rose stems. You'll need to check the ties once in awhile to make sure they haven't become too tight with new growth.
Deadhead Often
Like every good thing in life, rose blooms must come to an end. When that happens, you will need to remove the wilted blossoms so your rose plant will know to create more. If you forget to cut the bloom back, your rose will form hips. Rosehips are full of seeds, and once a plant sets seeds, you won't get any more flowers. If there are any skinny stems, go ahead and cut those back in order to encourage your bush to form new growth.
Prevent Diseases
Roses are prone to diseases during times of increased humidity and temperatures. You can prevent rose diseases by keep your rose leaves dry by watering the root system instead of showering the entire bush. If you spot any brown or dead leaves, remove the dead leaves or trim the stem completely off. You should also spray your roses for insects before any begin to appear. Prevention is key in keeping away slugs, aphids, and mites, who love roses.
