How To Be A Successful Rose Gardener
Last updated by Annie on: Sunday, Jul 25th 2010
Hi, . Often people can be fearful of rose gardening simply because they think roses are difficult to grow and need very exacting conditions. If you stick to a few simple rules rose gardening can be a real pleasure with beautiful results. Below you will find the most important rules to remember:-
A. Quality soil –
If planted in the right soil roses will thrive and grow beautifully. Good drainage is essential and always add compost and peat moss. The soil in your rose garden should have a pH level between 6.5 and 6.8, meaning the soil should be slightly acidic. Should the soil be too acidic then you simply add lime; should the soil not be acidic enough then you simply add some sulphur. If you do not know what your soil’s pH level is, visit your local agricultural outlet to purchase a gauge, or your nearest agricultural extension resource, or many local areas can test your soil for free.
B. Water –
Make sure your roses have enough water to drink or else they will die off. However, be careful not to over-water them otherwise the deep root system will rot and cannot establish itself. You should thoroughly water them a few times a week during the growing season, being about a 15 minute watering session 2-3 times a week, in the morning. You should refrain from watering your roses in the evening as this may cause a powdery mildew to develop on the plants.
C. Sunshine –
Roses need about 6-7 hours of sunshine each day, but be careful not to let them burn in the midday sun. A sunny morning spot (when the sun is cooler) which then gets light dappled shade in the afternoon (when the sun is at it’s hottest) is ideal.
D. Space and Air –
Do not plant your roses too close together, this is a common mistake in trying to group plants together for a more established/mature effect. The plants should be spaced far enough apart so that air can circulate around them; always follow the planting instructions when you buy a rose plant.
E. Disease -
Rose plants (like any plant) can be prone to the odd disease or two so prevention and treatment are paramount. The commonest diseases amongst rose plants are black spot, powdery mildew, or rust, so remember to always check a rose plant for disease before you buy it. As long as you stick to the watering and air and space instructions above then you shouldn’t have much trouble with disease. If there are signs of disease then you will need to prune the infected area and discard the cuttings (don’t recycle them for compost). If this treatment does not rid the plant of the disease then you may need to resort to a garden fungicide treatment.
So, armed with these simple rules, you should be well placed for fruitful rose gardening, and the beauty that that will bring to your garden.
