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Understanding the Rose Types

June 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The initial planning stage for a rose garden may throw you off balance, when you visit the local garden store to be greeted by innumerable varieties of roses. There are countless numbers of colors, shapes and sizes to choose from. The sheer range of the varieties of roses that one can access for a garden is simply incredible. Hybrid tea, floribunda, shrubs and ground cover, climbers and heirloom roses are the main types of roses and each variety can claim its individual characteristics and are suitable for different types of landscapes.

One of the critical aspects of growing a rose garden, which you must always keep in mind, is the plant’s love for sunlight. A rose plant may grow according to the height and shape which is typical of that particular species but whichever type of rose you choose sunlight would be the main concern. Thus, when you choose a spot for growing rose plants in your garden, make sure that the spot gets at least 5 to 6 hours of good sunlight per day.

Hybrid tea roses look lovely when planted in rows through out the garden. They make excellent cutting flowers and have large blooms which show up mostly on single stems. Floribunda roses on the other hand are known for their breathtaking beauty and show up with many medium sized flowers on a single stem. Ground cover roses, selected primarily for size and color, behave much like shrubs. As the name suggests, climbers can be taught to look like a vine by tying them to a trellis during their growth phase.

The origin of heirloom roses can be traced back to the 19th century. This particular type has recently staged a comeback in terms of popularity. They are tough plants and the flowers are famous for their fragrance.

You must sit back and visualize your rose garden before you actually select any particular variety of rose. It is always interesting to see a mix of many varieties and sizes of roses rather than looking at rows of same type of roses in a garden. You must also think of the color scheme which you wish to give your garden as colors enhance the look and overall feel. For designing your garden in the most optimal way, you could consult catalogs, magazines or even online resources. Like all gardens a good planning will result in a good looking, healthy and colorful garden in the long run.

Once your planning for the garden is over, you must follow certain easy maintenance tips if you wish to see your rose garden prosper well for long number of years in the future. For instance, a rose garden must be cleaned regularly. Remove all dead and fallen leaves as well as other usual garden debris as often as you can. This will enable you to reach the roots of the plant while watering. Or else, you will eventually water the stem and leaves, which in turn will attract various fungal diseases and other problems for your plants.

Your plants will need timely feeding for proper growth not only during flowering seasons but also during dormant months. There are plenty of fertilizers available at the local garden store. Whichever fertilizer you choose, make sure that you follow the specific directions for use so that your plants remain healthy and grow optimally. Mulch is a great friend of the rose garden and so is careful pruning, both of which add life and vigor to the plant’s growth for great many years in the future.

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Tips for Rose Garden Maintenance

June 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It is unfortunate that rose gardens have earned the wrong reputation of being difficult to maintain. The truth of the matter is that rose garden is easy to take care of even for a novice gardener. All you need is the knowledge of maintaining, protecting and pruning the garden and you can expect healthy, good looking roses for many years in the future.

Like any garden, a rose garden also requires regular cleaning. You must take care to remove all dead and fallen leaves as well as all unnecessary garden debris so that you are able to access the roots of the plants when you water the. Or else, you will land up watering the stems and leaves which in turn will attract fungal diseases as well as rust. Remember rose plants should be watered only at the roots and no where else on the plant body.

Like any living thing, rose plants also need food at the right time to look healthy through out the flowering season as well as during the dormant season. While there are many varieties of fertilizers available at any local garden store, be careful to read the instructions for use printed on every label which many vary according to the type of rose. The right amount of fertilizer is important for proper growth and maintenance of your rose plant. The thumb rule is to feel the plants during early spring when the buds are starting to swell. After the plant has produced a full bloom, it is feeding time again. For most climate zones, the plants have to be fed during late summer. A fourth feeding in early October may be needed if you live in a climate zone which has a long growing season.

Mulch is always a good friend for the rose garden. in summer it retains the moisture level and keeps it at a constant level. Thus, mulch must be added to your regular plant care schedule shortly before the first bloom appears. Similarly, during winter months, the root system of the plants stands to get damaged due to the frequent freezing and thawing cycle. Mulch can protect the root system from such damages if you reinforce the plant with several inches of soil and add mulch to this soil.

Careful pruning is the last tip for the successful maintenance of your rose garden. The recommended time is early spring when pruning should be done for a healthy and reproductive growth through out the flowering season. Get yourself a good and strong pair of shears for your pruning exercise. Take special care of the central part of your rose bush and prune this area specifically. This will ensure circulation of fresh air till much later in the season. All dead wood, weak growth and old canes must be removed at this point. The ideal height to which the plant has to be cut would depend largely on the type of rose plant and the specific recommendation. Rub alcohol on your pruning shears to prevent any spreading of mold or fungus to other parts of the plant or your garden.

Following these simple tips you can turn your rose garden into a dream garden which can add beauty and glamour to your landscape.

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Basic Tools for Every Rose Garden

June 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Today there is no dearth of gardening tools which are available in the market; be it your local garden store, the superstore or even glitzy infomercials which claim superior benefits with one of the many innovations for garden maintenance. The truth of the matter is that there are really very few essential tools which are required for successful rose gardening.

If you remember the old saying that ‘every rose has its thorn’ the first item which you must have in your stock of gardening tools is a pair of good and long lasting gloves. Forget those dainty and feminine cotton gloves which only protect your fingers. What you need here is a pair of heavy gloves preferably made of leather which reaches up to your cuff. This will prevent your hands getting pricked while pruning your rose plants. Some of the rose types have their thorns which are deceptive as they are tiny and are placed along the stem. So when you are trying to cut back excess growth, they get stuck in your skin like small splinters which can be quite painful.

While on the subject of pruning, the next important item for keeping a rose garden is a pair of good shears. Shears are available in two types: the anvil pruner and the bypass pruner. The anvil pruner is equipped with blades which meet on top of each other. This means that if you use this type of shear for your rose garden you will land up squashing the stems and canes, which will destroy your plant quickly. The other type of shear, or the bypass pruner, is much like an ordinary pair of scissors – its blades pass each other as they cut the stems, etc. Shears like this type will not damage the stems as you cut back growth, prune, etc. Choose a pair which you feel comfortable to hold and gives a good grip as it matches with the size of your hands. These aspects are important while selecting shears as this is one tool which is most frequently used in a rose garden. Take a look at the locking device in the shears, especially if you have small children in the house.

The next set of tools which you require for maintaining your rose garden are: a rake, a spade and a shovel. The meal tines in a good rake must be closely placed and they must be sharp. This type of rake is good for leveling of the soil for your rose beds, rather than blunt metal tines which are widely placed. A spade which you can hold with your hands is better for moving the soil around your plants. When selecting a shovel, choose one which is equipped with a long handle. This makes the task of planting the roses easier. The size and ease of use are important factors while choosing a shovel.

The last set of tools for your rose garden are those required for watering and for taking overall care of the garden. You need a watering system with a garden sprayer which has a long wand attached to a hose. These spraying wands make the task of reaching the roots of the plants easy as well as watering any hanging baskets in your garden. A pressure sprayer which can be attached to the hose would be excellent when you want to feed and apply pesticides to your plants. This specific attachment will make your task of mixing and applying very convenient.

These are all the tools you really need to take care of your rose garden efficiently and conveniently. Not only are these tools great to start your rose gardening but good for those who are at the exercise already.

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Simple Tips to Take Care of Your Rose Garden

June 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

One of the most popular myths about rose gardening is that growing it is an impossible dream, which can only be accomplished by some one who is not just overtly ambitious but has plenty of time on his or her hands. The reality is far from it; in fact, growing a rose garden can be one of the most rewarding and attainable accomplishments, provided you have the ability to plan and maintain it. Obviously, growing and nurturing anything as beautiful as a rose garden would need some amount of patience.

A rose garden, like any other garden would need regular cleaning. Removing dead or fallen leaves and clearing all the accumulated garden debris would enable you to access the roots of the plant while watering. Or else, you will land up watering the stems, leaves and flowers, which in turn will attract fungus and other plant ailments.

Remember, mulch is a great friend of the rose garden. Not only does it keep the weeds away, but it also helps retain the right amount of moisture for the soil. Hence add mulch in your regular garden maintenance schedule once the first bloom appears. Did you know that in winter, because of the frequent change in cycle, between freezing and thawing, the underground root system of the plant also shifts and eventually gets damaged? So, during winter months you should strengthen the plant by covering it up with several inches of soil and add mulch to this covering. This will help the plant to survive the severity of winter months and emerge with nice and healthy blooms in early spring.

It is not wrong to say that water is the life-giver for any garden. But the right amount of water is important for a plant to survive – neither too much nor too less. Both these extremes can damage your plant beyond repair. Thus, when you water your rose plants, make sure that you sprinkle water only at the base. If you water the stems and leaves you would be attracting many types of fungal diseases as well as rust. The rose plants love their roots to be soaked with adequate water when it reaches six to eight inches deep into the soil, instead of the whole plant getting drenched in water.

Your rose plants need the right food for looking their best during the flowering season as well as remaining healthy during the dormant season. While you buy your fertilizers from the local garden store, you must follow the instructions for use very carefully as they vary according to the type of rose. As a general rule, rose plants should be fed with fertilizers during early spring, when the buds are just beginning to swell. The plants need to be fed again after they have produced a full bloom. The next feeding should be done during late summer for most climate zones. If the growing season in your climate is long, then the plants would need a feed during early October to withstand the harsh winter ahead.

The rules for maintaining a rose garden is simple. Following these simple schedules would result in a beautiful rose garden that you can be proud of.

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