Roses are probably the most glamorous garden blooms, revered by one and all for their beauty and benefits. Much coveted and widely appreciated for their delightful fragrance and lovely hues, these thorny blooms are, however, not the easiest to bring up. Most gardeners like to term rose as difficult, frail plants that need to be constantly pampered and fussed over with weekly sprays and frequent fertilizing. Agreed, that this thorny shrub demands extra attention and commitment, but a little ingenuity and careful planting can reward you with a garden full of lovely roses. Appreciated as ‘Queen of Flowers’, well-bloom roses are indeed any gardener’s pride. Growing roses is not as difficult as it is usually seen to be. The real secret to rose gardening is to understand how nature works. Understanding this simple fact before digging mother earth will leave you with a garden full of attractive rose blooms. Read on to know more on how to plant roses.
- When planting a rose bush, begin by digging up a hole almost one and half times as deep and twice as wide as your rose bush. Empty your sachet of rose fertilizer into the hole, followed by a shovel full of manure and soil. Remember to sprinkle a little fertilizer on top of the soil layer.
- Gently transfer the rose plant from the pot and place it in the hole, maintaining the soil line of your rose plant the same as that of your garden. Don’t forget to gently scrape the bottom roots and sides of your rose plant before planting it, which is certain to promote root growth, as your rose plants adjust to the new soil.
- Fill the hole, switching between a layer of soil, compost and a dash of fertilizer. Water it thoroughly, before doing it up with another layer of soil, compost and fertilizer. Wait for the water to get completely absorbed, before following it up with another layer of soil and compost. Cover it with a layer of mulch to help the soil retain its moisture.
- It is important to keep your rose plant bug free. As soon as you spot aphids or other bugs, discard them straightaway. You can use a homemade potion of ½ teaspoon dishwashing liquid to one quart of water to get rid of aphids.
- Never wait for withered leaves to chip off of their own. Keep a check on diseased brown leaves and remove them immediately. Yellow-greenish leaves are signs of iron or nitrogen deficiency.
- Never overly water your rose plants. Just water when the top 3 or 4 inches of soil is dry, and then soak the plants. It is not required to water your rose plants every day.
Tips
- Roses love to sunbath. So ensure that they enjoy their 6 hours of sunlight. However, avoid planting it in very humid areas. It is best to plant your rose in a way so that they receive the required sunlight.
- For maximum appeal, always plant roses of complementary colors close to each other.
- Give your rose plants plenty of air circulation if you wish to keep them in top form. Find out how large your plants will be at maturity and space them accordingly.
- It’s always best to check the pH balance of your soil before planting your rose tree. The ideal pH balance for roses is between 5.5 and 6.6.
- During summers, it is advisable to water your roses in the morning so that they dry up before nightfall.