Plant Gardens 101

Compost is what is left over when organic matter decomposes. Organic matter can be things like vegetable scraps, leaves, mown grass and any other garden waste. This material will decompose without any assistance at all, though you can help it along and enjoy the benefits of compost faster if you wish.

Because it doesn’t contain a high level of essential nutrients, compost is not considered an actual fertilizer. Instead, it is treated as a soil conditioner or amendment. Compost does supply many good things to the soil. It attracts beneficial creatures like earthworms and it improves the soil composition.

Cold composting is basically just making a pile and letting it sit in the bin. This takes longer than hot composting. Hot composting is when you take a shovel and turn your pile every few days to supply more oxygen to the microorganisms in your compost pile. (more…)

From Teas, Grandifloras, Hybrids, and Floribundas, you’ll find that there is a very vast world of roses, and there are so many different types, that even gardeners who are experienced may find it confusing. So, what are hybrid tea roses? Well, basically they are created by crossing the China Tea rose with a Hybrid Perpetual, which is a European rose.

Usually the roses that you see in windows of florist shops right before Valentines Day are hybrid tea roses. These are the images that most people have when they think of classic roses. They usually have rather large blooms, and for each stem, there is only one rose produced. These blooms unfold with large petals that look like velvet and come out in a variety of layers. They are often favorites of people who enjoy cutting long stemmed roses to display in their homes. Also, photographers love to photograph them as well, since there are many colors available and the petals look wonderful. Since they flower on a regular basis, usually hybrid tea roses are known as monthly roses or even ever blooming roses. (more…)

Once winter ends and the spring moves in, dedicated gardeners dig out their gardening tools and get ready for the new season full of roses. Many of these gardeners grab their shears and put on gloves and set out to their garden to prune their rose bushes. Pruning rose bushes allows for the new buds to bloom in spring. Since rose bushes go dormant, depending on where you live, you may be able to prune your rose pushes before spring. For example, if you live in a warmer climate, you can prune your rose bushes in the fall.

As any gardener should do, take the time to get to know your plants. Gardeners who are planning to prune their rose bushes should figure out what kind of roses they have. Every rose bush is different from the next. The main purpose of pruning a rose bush is to remove and reduce parts of the bush overall. These parts can be pruned off because they are unnecessary. Getting rid of these unneeded pieces will allow more air to flow to the bush as well as more sun distribution. Both of these factors will keep the plant healthy which leads to more beautiful blooms of roses. (more…)

While surveying your property for choosing the best location for your rose garden, be sure the area has full sunlight. Remember, roses love sunshine. Roses need at least 6 hours of sunlight to grow and blossom. When you are taking up rose gardening for the first time, you should consider getting advice from your local gardening center associates, as they would be happy to provide you with free gardening tips.

Rose gardening is not so hard, although it does take some time for planning and preparing your soil beds. Basic gardening tips apply. Be sure to plant your roses in such a way as they have enough room to grow as well as the room you need to care for the plants. Keep in mind that roses do not do well in poor draining soil. Make sure your gardens are free of debris, while only using the best quality fertilizer when preparing your rose beds before planting.

Roses prefer fertile soil, high in organic materials, although they will grow in almost any type of soil. Roses also prefer chemical fertilizers over organic, therefore you should add to the soil a quantity of superphosphate before planting. Do not be shy about asking your local experts for gardening advice, many are more than happy to share their love of roses and remember to choose the fertilizer you use wisely. (more…)

Okay. You’ve bought your roses and they’re all lined up, ready for planting. You’ve amended your soil and it is just waiting to receive your roses. All you need to do is stick them in the ground, right? Not quite. You don’t want to rush this part… planting your roses properly will ensure they get off to a good start.

You may have bare root roses, a rose that is already in a pot or a rose that is not established. A non-established rose is a plant that does not have enough root growth to hold the root ball together. If you have either a bare root or a potted rose, the method of planting is very similar.

By now you’ve probably decided where you want to plant your rose. First you want to dig a hole. Be sure to locate your roses in a place where they will get at least six hours of direct sunlight and that the soil has good drainage. You may want to test the drainage before you plant your rose. Dig a hole one or two feet deep and fill it up with water. After two hours, if there is still standing water, plant your rose elsewhere or mix sand in the soil. Once you have a good site, dig a hole that is one and half to two feet deep by one and a half feet wide. You may need to dig a larger hole if the rose you are planting requires it. (more…)

With the proper balance of soils and the right conditions, are important for roses to flourish beautifully. Although these are not frail flowers, caring for roses means a good deal of preparation work in taken care of before you begin enjoying their beauty. Roses require well-drained fertile soil, high in organic matter while having a particular pH. Although, some types of roses may enjoy a slightly different pH level, a pH level between 6 and 7 works wonderfully for all roses.

You must check the drainage in order to prepare the soil. Water the soil and measure the time in which it takes for drainage of water from the soil. Sluggish drainage of the soil may require other alternatives for rose gardening, such as container or raised bed gardening.

Fertile soil thrives with organic materials. In order to add organic materials, you will find various organic and chemical fertilizers available today. Although, the past has shown various chemical fertilizers that negatively influence our environment, today you will find numerous eco-friendly fertilizers in the marketplace. Remember to ask for assistance at your local gardening center while shopping to find just the right one. Organic versus chemical fertilizers are debatable by many as well as interesting tips and advice, off and online. In order to choose the best fertilizer for your rose garden, it is best to do your own research. All the while, keeping in mind that sometimes, each type of fertilizer whether organic or chemical may be the best for killing weeds, thus you must test and learn as you go. (more…)

Contain It: Ten Things to Think about when Growing Container Roses

If your space is at a premium, but you love roses, you may want to think about growing container roses.

1. Convenience of Location

Growing roses in containers had a lot of advantages. If you don’t have a yard to garden in, or are limited to a balcony on your apartment, container gardening is perfect. Containers can be set on a patio or moved about as needed to give you the most decorative effect you can get. As long as you are gentle, it is fairly easy to move container roses. Larger containers can get quite heavy after they are filled up with plants and soil. If you are planting a large container, put it where you want it to sit before you begin to fill it. If you put it on a rolling stand, it is easier to move the container later or rotate it to get even sun exposure.

When choosing a spot for your container rose, remember your rose needs six hours of direct sun every day. You’ll also want to keep in mind how easy it is to water your rose in your chosen location, and what kind of temperatures will your rose be exposed to in its container. (more…)

It is joy that we greet the arrival of spring, after a long cold winter season. You should enjoy your cool spring morning stroll around your rose gardens to find out how well they survived the winter. As soon as the weather becomes warmer, you will see green canes spouting new buds. Each growth will bring with it the bounty of rose blossoms all season long.

On the early spring days, there are basics to attend to in order to ready your garden beds for roses. Some of the items to attend to follow and be sure to visit www.roseflowergarden.com for even more rose gardening information.

- Remove all soil or protective winter coverings that surround the plants from the cold winter season. Take care not to damage the roots. However, exposing the bushes to the arrival of springtime sunshine provides the warmth needed to grow and thrive. (more…)

Do you love roses? Luscious rose gardens add a beautiful atmosphere to any home and garden. Even beginners can grow roses with little trouble when learn the basics of maintenance. There are some gorgeous ideas for backyard rose gardening. Although there are many steps to growing a beautiful rose garden, even a beginner can do it. Here you will find some rose gardening tips for the beginner.

- First, choose your spot. Roses love sunlight; therefore, they grow best when getting at least 8 hours of sunshine daily. A full day of sunlight is best; however, morning sun is preferable to afternoon sun.

- Prepare the soil for your roses well. Although, roses are not fragile flowers, they thrive in good draining soil, with a pH level about 6 or 7. Roses flourish in soils rich in organic materials.

- Keep in mind that soil that does not drain well, leave plants open to the vulnerability of disease and roots rot.

- Add organic materials such as compost, peat moss and manure.

- Fertilizers come in various choices between organic and chemical fertilizers.

- Allow the soil to rest a few days as it settles. (more…)

When many people think of rose beauty, they think of tea roses. They usually come with fragrant large blooms that are simply elegant, vibrant in color, and with velvet petals. If you want to add tea roses to your rose garden, you’ll probably be overwhelmed with all the different varieties to choose from. In fact, there are actually hundreds of tea roses to choose from. You’ll find them in various colors, sizes, and shapes. So, here are a few tips that will help make your choice a bit simpler for you as you pick the perfect tea rose for your garden.

Tip #1 – Make Sure it Will Do Well in Your Climate – One of the most important things to keep in mind when picking out tea roses is to make sure the one you pick will do well in the climate that you live in. If you live in an area that is quite warm, make sure that your tea rose can stand the heat. Live in a humid area? Then make sure the tea rose can resist various fungal diseases. Also, make sure that your rose is hardy during the cold as well.

Tip #2 – Read the Labels – Usually you’ll find that the tea roses come with a description or label. Even if you look at it and love it, make sure that you read the label information on it. The last thing you want is a rose that won’t thrive well for you, so read it first, even if you love it right away. (more…)

Most people can barely imagine having roses without having thorns. They are so beautiful that most people are willing to risk the pain of the thorns. However, today there are a variety of different options available. In fact, today there are various rose varieties that are actually thornless. So, let’s take a look at some of the top roses that don’t have the thorns anymore. You’ll be able to get rid of those gardening gloves and go on dealing with your roses without having to worry about thorns.

Rose #1 – The Banksias Rose – This is a rose that is just about thornless and it has been very popular with many gardeners. It was first introduced in Kew Gardens, just about 200 years ago. This Banksias Rose usually has many blooms on it during the flowering season of about two months. You’ll find that it blooms in the early fall, in September and October and there are beautiful yellow double bloom flowers that look amazing. While the flowers are not that big, with so many on one bush, they are totally spectacular.

This type of a rose is a rambling rose that grows freely. However, you’ll find that you can easily keep it in place by trimming it, since there are no thorns to worry about. It is important to note that this rose should not be pruned during the winter months, but it should be trimmed right after it finishes blooming. The flowers of this rose are produced in the wood from the growing season previous, so pruning during the winter months can be disastrous. (more…)

Who has not heard the saying: Every rose has its thorns? To many people the thorn on a rose has symbolism, whether it is spiritual or otherwise. The thorn seems to state that even the most beautiful things in life have a little bad to them. You could even say that the thorn is there to say “hey, you got to take the bad with the good.” No matter how you think of it there is some kind of meaning to it for most people.

In Roman mythology it is said that the thorns are there because Cupid was stung by a bee and started shooting arrows every where. Some arrows hit roses and because of the sting in the arrows the thorns took root and have been there ever since. Whether this is true or we will never know but if you are having trouble with thorns you should not be in despair. All you need is a little care and patience and you can remove these pesky daggers safely for a smooth stem.

When removing thorns from roses you have to be careful, the thorns are actually there to help the rose drink up the water. Therefore you have to be careful not to damage the stem when removing these sharp little daggers. It takes time and practice to know how to remove thorns without damaging the stem of the rose itself. If you accidentally peel or tear the skin you can hinder the amount water the rose gets. (more…)

The following insects have made it to the Rose Garden’s Ten Most Wanted list. Read carefully so you can identify them and eradicate them from your garden.

1. Aphids

Aphids top this list because they are the most frequent rose pest. They love to nestle into the buds and shoots of rose bushes. While low to moderate levels of aphids will not do much harm to your roses, you need to keep an eye on how they spread. High numbers of aphids will produce a lot of honeydew. This substance encourages mold growth and will eventually cause your rose leaves to blacken. You may notice that your flowers shrink in size and the buds may even be killed. Lady beetles and syrphid flies are the natural enemies to aphids and will keep the population under control. You can also spray the plant with water or insecticidal soap. Aphids are usually a problem during spring and early summer. Unless you have a really heavy infestation, it is uncommon to have to use insecticides against them.

2. Spider Mites

If you notice your rose leaves are stippled or dried up and dropping to the ground, you may be infested with spider mites. These little insects are so tiny you may need a magnifying glass to see them. They like dry, dusty conditions. You can control spider mites by providing a little more water to your roses to cut down on dust. (more…)

Do you enjoy roses and their pure elegance? Do you like getting roses for a special occasion? Do you wish you could have a garden full of roses each year? Many people enjoy all of these things; however, some of us are not born with green thumbs, and some of us never seem to obtain that green thumb. If you are completely new with gardening or you seem to kill even the easiest to take care of indoor plants, don’t fret. With the vast variety of roses, there are many hearty roses that do not require a lot of work. Whether you’re a new gardener, you don’t have time to take care of a rose garden, or you don’t have a green thumb, a hybrid rose bush might be your best option.

1. One of the best roses around is the Betty Prior Rose. This bush blooms during growing season, and the blooms never seem to end! The roses that this plant produces are breathtaking. The buds start off pink and blossom into a beautiful white rose. These roses are perfect for a gift or to keep around the house! The bush is very compact and it usually never grows over 3 ft. The Betty Prior Rose is very hardy and it is a great choice for anyone who loves roses but does not always have the time or experience to take care of them. (more…)

How your roses thrive depends on many factors, the most important of all is having the right kind of soil. For those who are new to growing and taking care of roses you are probably unsure of what kind of soil to use and how often you need to maintain it. Even those who have been growing roses for while find it hard to find just the right soil mixture for their rose garden.

There are four elements that need to be used in rose soil. The first element is inorganic material, inorganic material consist of clay, sand and silt. Inorganic material should make up about 45% of the soil mixture. Next is organic material which is also known as humus. Organic is made up of mostly decomposed material. You also need plenty of air and water. In a good mix of soil there are pores and about half those pores are for water and half the pores are for air.

In order for them to thrive roses need a lot of nutrients. You should use a good combination of compost or manure with your soil mixture. You can substitute store bought manure and peat moss if you need to. The pH balance of your soil should be between 6.5 and 6.8. The soil should feel light and crumble when squeezed. If you find that the soil is too sticky or that it feels too sandy you will need to change the mixture of it. (more…)

Many diseases that roses get are caused by fungus that attacks your roses. However, I do have some good news for you, no matter what kind of fungi is damaging your roses the treatments are all pretty much the same.

There are many things you can do to keep the fungi away from your roses and to make sure that your roses do not attracted the fungi. One way is to actually water the soil instead of the plant it self. Fungi are attracted to any water that is one the plant itself, which means the leaves, stems and petals should stay dry if at all possible. You should check your roses on a regular basis to be sure that the canes are not exposed because fungi can make an easy home of an exposed cane.

You should keep the area around the base of the plant clean from any fallen dead leaves and petals. If you suspect that any blooms, leaves or canes have been infected with fungi they should be removed promptly. Once they are removed they should be disposed of properly so no other plants are exposed to it. You can throw them away or you can burn them and never throw them in your compost pile, this can make matters worse. (more…)

Heirloom roses are always mentioned as something good for your garden, but what exactly are they? Heirloom, also known as antique or old roses are the rose varieties that existed before 1867, the year the first hybrid tea rose was developed in France. Heirloom roses lost favor with gardeners since they did not repeat blooms like the new roses do. Today, a lot of gardeners still look at heirlooms as being inferior to the modern varieties. While modern roses bloom several times over a growing season, heirloom roses produce blossoms in early summer for a period of two to four weeks. When they bloom, though, the fragrance and abundance of blooms is astounding.

If you’re thinking of adding some heirloom roses in your garden there are a few things you should know before you plant them.

1. Heirloom Roses are Hardy and Diverse

It is mind-boggling how many colors, sizes, flower forms and fragrances there are to choose from with heirloom roses. If you want climbing roses, or short roses or tall roses… you’ll find something to fit the bill. With all this variety, you’re sure to find one or three that you can’t live without. (more…)

Mildew is every gardener’s worst nightmare, especially those who have rose bushes. The most known and most common mildew that effects rose bushes is one known as sphaerotheca pannosa. This type of mildew is powdery. The mildew is usually a white or grey powder that is usually found on rose bush leaves, shoots, buds, and the petals. Once the mildew attacks the plant, it spreads very easily and a gardener will soon notice white patches on the rose bush. The fungus eventually sucks all of the nutrients and water from the leaves, which in turn kills the leaves. The leaves eventually shrivel up and fall off of the bush completely.

The common powdery mildew is not caused by free water on the rose bush’s leaves and other parts; instead the mildew lives and thrives on hot, arid weather. In fact, watering your rose bush in the afternoon will help rid of some of the powdery mildew because it will break up the spores that are released by the mildew during the daytime. If you can afford to purchase fungicides, they are also helpful in getting rid of mildew. However, the fungicide will only be effective if you apply it at the right time. (more…)

When is the best time to transplant roses? This is one of the most common questions asked by novice gardeners and one of the most popular topics discussed by dedicated Rosarians. There are no right or wrong answers and any experience gardener will have his or her own rules regarding this based on experience. There are general guidelines offering good advice for novices to follow, which can give successful results. However, it is a good idea to keep a record of the dates when you transplant your roses and observe their progress. This will give you a clear indication of which is the best time for you, to transplant your roses given the type of climate you live in.

For generally guidance, the best time to transplant roses is during a time when they are dormant. In northern climates this period falls at the end of the winter season. In a warmer climate transplanting can take place in late autumn or winter

Exposed roots can be transplanted any time as long as the temperature is above freezing level. Rose transplants will not survive if they are subjected to 10 degrees below 0 F. Container grown roses can be transplanted at any time of year but Spring is best, this will give the roots chance to spread and strengthen themselves before the winter sets in. (more…)

Since the Victorian Era, rose cuttings have been used to propagate roses, and even pioneers who journeyed west to find a new life would use this art as well. They would take along various cuttings from their gardens in the east, putting them in mason jars and carting them across the land until they found the right place to plant.

If you want a garden project that is easy and fun propagating new roses by using rose cuttings can be done quite simply. This is a great way to start your own rose garden for cheap. While there is not set way you have to prepare your cuttings, just about everyone seems to have their own special way of doing it. However, here are a few things that will help you out as you get started in the art of preparing your cuttings and then planting them. Consider doing some experimenting to find out which method works the best for you.

Mason Jar Method

This is a fairly simple way of using rose cuttings for propagation. You’ll first want to cut a stem from the rose bush of your choice. Then you’ll want to take the stem and take off any leaves there are on it. Once you plant it into the ground, you’ll need to cover it with a mason jar. Make sure that you water the area around the jar, just to be sure that the stem doesn’t get too dry. Usually after a couple months, you’ll see new leaves growing from this cutting. (more…)