Roses are truly the queens of any garden. Stately, dramatic and classic, their blooms reoccur throughout our lives as symbols of love, admiration, and beauty.
We give people roses in romance and at death. Young girls wear roses to their first dance. We give roses to cheer the sick and to congratulate the successful.
Grow Calendar 2011
Roses are popularly grown by the wealthy in fabulous formal gardens. They are also grown in postage stamp sized garden plots in the yards of humble row houses.
If you want an attractive garden without the fuss of herbaceous plants, and perennial or annual flowers, roses provide an easy solution. The blooms stand out against a backdrop of greenery, or look wonderful grown in front of a wooden fence or brick wall.
When you decide to grow roses, you need to first assess the area. You will need well drained soil in a sunny location which means the site should receive at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.
Roses come in many varieties and a wide range of colors. Some bloom throughout the season (repeat bloomers) while others bloom just once. Some, like Tea roses, feature a single flower on a tall, sturdy stem, while floribundas have many blooms on a stem.
There are heirloom varieties of roses that have been grown for generations. The older species are generally very fragrant. Certain newer hybrids have very little scent as the genetic trait has been sacrificed in favor of another trait, such as hardiness or color that was highlighted.
There are delicate, sensitive plants and other, like Rosa ragusa that is strong and study enough to grow at the beach within yards of the ocean. You can purchase tree roses, or climbers. The varieties are endless.
Then, there is the color choice. Even if you decide that you want a pink flower, you will soon find that there are more shades of pink than you can possibly imagine.
Rose plants are named, like the widely popular, classic Tea rose called Chrysler Imperial, a large, deep red bloom. Genevieve is a beautiful double bloomed, old fashioned looking hybrid by David Austin. There are roses named for famous people as well as places like the Chicago Peace Rose, Queen Elizabeth, and John Kennedy.
If you are new to growing roses, read the garden catalogues so that you can select a hardy, easy to grow specimen. If you shop for roses at a garden center, read the tag thoroughly. Follow all directions carefully. Sometimes, instructions may seem silly but never skip recommended steps for planting, feeding, watering, and pruning.
New plants usually need a lot more water than older, established plants. Water deeply to encourage the roots to grow. It is best to water in the morning as evening watering can create conditions that attract insect infestation, fungal problems, and disease. Water the soil below the plant and try not to wet the leaves.
Follow recommendations for feeding and pruning. Roses need to be pruned or cut back in early spring. And of course, you should remove wilted, or dying blooms to encourage the growth of new buds.
With a little care and attention, you can make your garden beautiful with classic, dramatic roses.
An Introduction to Roses - How to Choose and Grow Roses in Your Garden Grow Calendar 2011
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