Planting a rose garden can greatly enhance your landscape. However, it intimidates many beginners to try to grow roses. Rose growing is thought to be quite difficult by many.

Reports of roses getting such things as powdery mildew can make the novice fearful of giving rose growing a try. Yet, by paying attention to four basic elements, your rose growing can turn out to be a huge success.

1. Soil – The best soil for a rose to grow in is if it has a pH from 6.5 to 6.8. The soil must have good drainage for rose growing. You are able to promote a soils drainage by using peat moss.

2. Irrigation – The best thing to do is to give your rose bushes a good drink at least twice a week. If you give your roses two deep waterings each week, this is better than four less thorough waterings. It is best to try not to water your roses late in the evening. This could foster powdery mildew which is a common disease among roses.

3. Spacing – If you do not adequately space your roses, you are inviting powdery mildew to form on your roses. It is best to let them breathe. Be sure to follow the spacing requirements that are indicated on the plant label when you buy your roses.

4. Sun – Roses enjoy six hours of sunlight each day. It is preferable to have the roses get morning sun rather than the afternoon sun.

There is nothing more beautiful than a rose bush in full bloom. Do not let the growing of roses intimidate you. Just follow the above tips and you are bound to be a success at rose growing!

Rose Growing Tips is a post from: Gardening Guide

If you’re new to rose bush gardening, rose varieties can be confusing because there are so many out there. You may be overwhelmed at the choices, and have trouble determining the right rose varieties for your garden. Well, we’re about to unfold the mystery for you. And, luckily, there seems to be a rose variety that can solve most common landscape dilemmas, like hiding an area where grass won’t grow or covering an unsightly fence. Here’s an overview of the most common varieties of roses, including their characteristics.

Hybrid tea roses – These are tall, long-stemmed roses ideal for cutting. There is usually only one flower per stem. These are good choices for your garden if you want cut flowers to bring indoors. These are favored by many people who are seriously into rose bush gardening. Rose bushes of this variety include the popular Diana Princess of Wales rose and the John F. Kennedy rose.

Floribundas – These roses have large, showy blossoms and bloom freely, with several blooms on a stem. Floribundas are perfect for mass rose bush gardening. Rose bushes of this variety include Black Cherry and Tuscan Sun.

Shrub roses -Shrub roses have long blooming seasons. They are not designed for cutting, because they have short stems with many blooms on each stem. Shrub roses are disease resistant and provide color all season. They grow on compact bushes, making them favored by those who want dramatic garden color from their rose bush gardening. Rose varieties of the shrub rose include Fairy Queen.

Ground Cover roses – These are low growing roses. You’ll often find them used as a ground cover because they grow only about a foot tall. However, they can spread as much as four feet wide. These are favored by gardeners who have an unsightly area to cover with their rose bush gardening. Rose varieties of this type include Baby Blanket and Red Ribbons

Climbers – Climbing roses produce long canes that can be trained to a trellis or other support. They have a long blooming season and are easy to grow and to train. Rose enthusiasts who have a fence or some other area to cover favor these for their rose bush gardening. Roses of the climbing variety include Golden Showers and Stairway to Heaven.

There is a rose variety to suit nearly any landscape requirement or dilemma. You’re sure to find uses for many of these rose varieties in your garden. Or, try one of each and see what type of rose gardening suits you and your garden best!

Choices for Rose Bush Gardening – Rose Varieties to Choose From is a post from: Gardening Guide

The Internet has brought a lot of convenience to many areas of our lives. Today, we communicate via email, we read our news on websites and we pay our bills via online banking. But, no area of our lives has been more affected by the Internet than our shopping habits. We can buy nearly everything we need online. But one item you might not have thought of purchasing via the Internet is online roses. Gardening has never been easier! Just point and click and buy the rose varieties you like best.

Because you can’t see the plant before you buy, many people might be wary of buying online roses. Gardening enthusiasts may fear that the roses they purchase sight unseen will be diseased or otherwise unhealthy. But, as long as you make sure you purchase from a reputable garden supply company, your roses purchased online should be very healthy.

There are many stores that sell online roses. Gardening websites that carry all sorts of flowers should have a fairly good variety of online roses. Gardening sites that specialize in roses will have an even larger selection, and may carry a guarantee on their roses, as well.

One of the greatest things about buying roses online is that you’ll often be able to find specialty varieties that your local garden store either won’t carry at all, or will carry in limited supply. Websites that specialize in carrying roses will usually have an ample supply of every variety they carry, so you’re assured that you can find the variety you want. The roses I have purchased through specialty rose websites have been the healthiest of any I’ve bought anywhere. They all come with a money back guarantee, but I’ve never had to use it!

Another thing that I love about buying roses online is that I can buy whenever I want, and the site will ship the roses to me at just the right time for planting in my USDA zone. This way, I don’t have to worry about storing my roses until planting time. As soon as they arrive I know that it’s safe to put them in the ground.

Today nearly all the roses I purchase for my garden are online roses. Gardening is so much simpler when I don’t have to make multiple trips to the garden store waiting until they have just what I’m looking for. With just a few clicks I can find exactly what I need and have it shipped directly to my door just when I need it. If only I could make all my hobbies so effortless!

Buying Online Roses – Gardening from Your Chair is a post from: Gardening Guide

When you’re new to growing roses, you’re probably not interested in choosing any roses that require extra attention. But, as your experience and confidence grows, you may be ready to tackle roses that require special care. Gardening rose bushes that are finicky takes time and experience, but can provide such beautiful results!

Hybrid tea roses are often considered those that need some special care. Gardening rose bushes of this type can be a bit more difficult, but you can learn some tips that will make it easier to provide their special care. Gardening rose bushes like these produce some absolutely beautiful results.

Hybrid tea roses are tall, long-stemmed and ideal for cutting. There is usually one flower per stem. They make the most beautiful cut flowers of any rose I can think of. Hybrid tea roses are hardy in USDA zones 5-9, and should over winter quite nicely if properly mulched.

Though hybrid tea roses are thought to need special care, gardening rose bushes of this variety requires the same conditions of other roses. The difference is that while many other roses will forgive you a little if the conditions are not perfect, hybrid tea roses will not. You must meet the needs of these roses precisely to get them to perform for your garden.

Following are the things you must do to ensure your hybrid tea roses remain healthy and bloom.

1) Give them the right soil – Roses require soil with a pH level of between 6.5 and 6.5 and they need soil with good drainage. Add some peat moss and compost and make sure you check your pH level before planting, and every three years afterward.
2) Give them enough water – Roses don’t like wet feet, but they cannot live without proper water. Depending upon how hot and dry your conditions are, you should water for 15-20 minutes 2-3 times a week during the growing season. Don’t water in the evening, as this can cause powdery mildew to develop.
3) Give them plenty of sun – Roses need six hours of sun each day to thrive and bloom. They will be much happier if most of this sun is in the morning and they are protected from the hottest afternoon sun.
4) Give them space – Putting rose bushes too close together is asking for trouble. They must have air circulation between the plants to avoid disease. Each rose bush you buy will come with spacing recommendations – follow them closely.
5) Feed them well – If you want blooms, feed your roses regularly. Blooming requires lots of nutrients, so the more you feed, the more flowers you’ll have. Follow the feeding recommendations that come with each rose bush you purchase.

That isn’t so hard, is it? Though they’re considered special care; gardening rose bushes of the hybrid tea variety isn’t really difficult. It’s just precise. If you follow the instructions to the letter, your lovely long stem roses will be the envy of the neighborhood!

Special Care Gardening – Rose Bushes That Need Extra Attention is a post from: Gardening Guide

Like any other plant, your roses require some basic maintenance. Gardening- caring for rose bushes in particular, has certain yearly tasks that gardeners should perform to keep their rose plants in good shape. The calendar that follows outlines routine tasks for gardening; caring for rose bushes all year long, to improve their longevity and health. This calendar was developed for USDA zones 7 and 8. You may have to adjust a bit if you live in a much warmer or colder zone.

January
• Apply dormant spray (Lime-Sulfur) to existing rose bushes.
• Order or purchase any bare root roses you’d like to plant.
• Begin planting bare root roses.

February
• Plant bare root roses.
• Prune existing roses – you can wait a bit longer for this if you’re busy with other gardening. Caring for rose bushes properly allows you to prune them over a period of a month or two. Many people recommend pruning when your forsythia blooms.

March
• Apply a quick-release fertilizer to existing roses.
• Plant bareroot roses.
• Remove mulch, top dress with a 2″ layer of cow manure and replace mulch.

April
• After all danger of frost, remove mulch from around the graft.
• Begin regular spraying for pests and disease every 7-10 days through October. Take a look at the many organic products available for gardening. Caring for rose bushes while protecting the environment is easier than ever.
• Plant potted roses.

May
• Apply slow-release fertilizer now or continue monthly feedings of quick-release fertilizer through mid-August (or 6 weeks prior to expected frost).
• Continue planting potted roses.

June-October
• Deadhead roses at least once a week. This will keep your bushes looking their best.
• Water weekly, or two to three times a week if it’s very hot. Remember that roses should be watered deeply and less often, as opposed to daily shallow watering. This is a key to rose gardening; caring for rose bushes properly means watering them in such a way that they’ll develop deep roots.
• Continue spraying for diseases and pests.
• Order new roses in October.

November
• Prepare new beds for planting.
• Order new roses.
• Every 2-3 years, have the soil tested and adjust the pH level to a range of 6 – 6.5. Your local agricultural extension agency will usually test your soil for free.

December
• Cut back roses to “waist high” (3′).
• Place mulch 6″ high over graft for winter protection.
• Order new roses.

Following this calendar, with minor modifications to adjust to your climate, should keep your roses in great shape. Roses do require regular maintenance, but staying on top of the schedule can keep your roses blooming all season long.

Basics of Gardening – Caring for Rose Bushes is a post from: Gardening Guide

One of the biggest concerns that rose gardeners express is in regard to preventing disease. Gardening rose bushes seems to require a fair amount of work in general, so gardeners are often truly concerned about the time commitment that will be required to keep their rose bushes healthy. Preventing and treating disease is one of the most important things you can do to ensure healthy roses.

Gardening rose bushes isn’t really all that difficult if you know what to do. Rose gardening simply requires some attention to detail and enough knowledge to know how to avoid most problems and treat others when they occur. Here are some things you can do to prevent rose disease.

Space them properly – Proper spacing helps prevent disease. Gardening rose bushes that will flourish requires allowing air to circulate between the plants. Rose plants are far more susceptible to disease if they don’t get proper air ventilation.

Water them in the morning – Evening watering invites disease. Gardening rose bushes requires morning watering to help ensure that your roses don’t develop powdery mildew – one of the most common rose diseases. Morning watering ensures that the water will have the opportunity to evaporate as the day warms up, while evening watering invites the growth of fungus.

Keep a check on them – It is critical to examine your rose plants regularly so that you can watch out for disease. Gardening rose bushes will be much easier if you can catch disease at the first sign.

Remove diseased branches – As soon as you spot disease branches or leaves, remove them. Removing the diseased branches helps keep the disease from spreading.

Treat the disease- There are many products on the market to treat the most common rose diseases like black spot, powdery mildew and rose mosaic. There are also home remedies that can be just as effective. And, if you’re concerned about protecting the environment by gardening organically, there are plenty of organic alternatives to treating disease in roses.

How do I know if my roses are diseased?

One question many rose gardeners have is about spotting rose diseases. Here are the most common rose diseases and their symptoms so that you can determine which disease you have in order to better prepare to treat it.

Black Spot – The disease is characterized by nearly circular, black spots with fringed margins. Black spot is more common in wet weather and cooler temperatures.

Rust – Rust shows up first on the undersides of the rose leaves – and looks like rust. As it spreads it will also show up on the tops of the leaves. Rust develops in temperatures between 65-75° coupled with moist conditions.

Powdery Mildew – This fungus, which can occur in dry weather as well as wet, causes leaves to have a white, talcum-powder-like growth on them.

Rose Mosaic – Rose mosaic is caused by a virus. Its symptoms include splotches of yellow and green on the rose leaves, often in a mosaic pattern.

Preventing Disease: Gardening Rose Tips is a post from: Gardening Guide

If you’ve never owned a climbing rose bush, you’re in for a treat. They are one of the loveliest things about gardening. Climbing roses are a great way to add color and fragrance almost anywhere.

Any type of rose is a joy for those who love gardening. Climbing roses provide a different effect than traditional rose bushes, however. Because they grow up instead of out, you can plant them near any horizontal surface. And, these beauties can solve many a landscape issue in gardening. Climbing roses can be used to cover an ugly fence or other structure.

Climbers are easy to grow. As long as they have plenty of sun, good soil and a sturdy trellis or fence for climbing, they are one of the easiest plants in gardening. Climbing roses grow quickly, too. So, you can cover that ugly fence very quickly.

You’ll need to prune climbing roses occasionally, just to keep them properly trained on the structure to which they’re attached, and to ensure that they look neat and tidy. Many will bloom for several weeks. And, while you won’t be able to cut these roses for a bouquet indoors, you’ll love the fragrance they bring to your garden.

Climbing roses come in a wide variety of sizes and colors. You can find climbers that grow only 6 feet tall, such as the Jeannie Lajoie. Or, you can opt for a mammoth Montecito for gardening. Climbing roses of the Montecito variety will reach 40 feet tall if there’s a structure that allows them to grow that high. Many people plant the Montecito at the foot of a tree and watch it go!

As for colors, you can find a climbing rose in any color you desire. Probably the most popular is the yellow variety called Golden Showers. This climber is so popular because it is grows quickly, is disease resistant and has a lovely fragrance. Another popular choice is the dark pink Stairway to Heaven Rose. This rose also grows quickly. It blooms early and blooms for much longer than most climbing roses.

There’s another great rose choice for Southern gardening. Climbing roses of the Cherokee variety are native to Georgia, but will thrive in any Southeast climate. This is also a very fast growing rose. It often will not bloom the first year after you plant it, but when it does begin blooming it is simply spectacular. The pink or white blooms are much larger than those on most climbing roses, so it puts on quite a show.

So, as you can see, climbing roses fit the bill for many occasions in the landscape. They provide a romance and elegance that few plants can match; and without a lot of work, to boot!

A Jewel for Gardening – Climbing Roses is a post from: Gardening Guide

All gardeners have questions occasionally. And, we often have no idea where to go with a gardening question. Rose gardening, in particular can leave you puzzled from time to time; we all need some resources to get us out of a pickle. Here are few places you can take that mysterious gardening question- rose questions in particular.

Online – Today there are dozens of home improvement and gardening websites that can answer any manner of gardening question. Rose experts often write columns or have FAQ sections on these sites, so you know that you’re getting the best advice. In addition, websites that sell roses will often have an education section. These sections can often provide an answer when you have a gardening question. Rose websites are especially good at providing the best planting and pruning instructions. In addition, they’ll offer great advice on the best new rose varieties each year.

Books – Many gardening books can tackle your most pressing gardening question. Rose manuals are great to add to your library; they can provide the answer to almost any question you might have about your rose garden. Your garden store will likely have a wide variety of books from which to choose.

Gardening Clubs – Joining your local gardening club can really pay off. In addition to learning more about your hobby, you’ll have the opportunity to meet gardening experts and to make new friends. You may also get to attend seminars that can provide great education and answer your pressing gardening question. Rose clubs exist in some areas. So, check local listings to see if you have a gardening club dedicated to rose growing in your area.

Magazines – There are many gardening magazines that are more than worth the cost of a subscription. These magazines offer articles that cover all aspects of gardening, from the basics to more advanced skills. You’ll have plenty of expert advice to increase your gardening knowledge. Plus, they’re often chock full of beautiful pictures that will give you great ideas and inspire you to make your garden its most beautiful.

So, as you can see, there are many ways to get answers to your gardening questions. There’s no reason to be concerned about how to care for your roses with so many resources available to help you. Whenever you get caught in a rose gardening dilemma, check out all the places you can find answers to your burning questions. You’ll be the gardening expert on your block before you know it!

Where to Go with a Gardening Question – Rose Experts to Help You Out is a post from: Gardening Guide

There are many forms of roses for your rose garden, but none has held its popularity longer than the Rose of Sharon. The Rose of Sharon is a deciduous flowering shrub that grows well in USDA zones 5-9. It is not really a rose, but rather a form of hibiscus. This popular variety is great for the person who is new to gardening. Rose of Sharon is easy to grow and very resistant to pests.

Rose of Sharon bushes can grow 8′-10′ tall and can spread as much as four to six feet, making them a great way to add height to your garden. And, this shrub can bring lots of color to your gardening. Rose of Sharon blooms come in white, red, lavender and light blue. The light and soil requirements of this shrub make it fit well your plan for rose gardening. Rose of Sharon prefers lots of sun and well drained soil, just like actual roses. If Rose of Sharon is not provided with the sun it needs, it may suffer from fungus.

Rose of Sharon is great for your landscape plan because it blooms in late summer, when many other flowers are finished for the year. It can also provide a great backdrop for shorter plants. Because Rose of Sharon can be pruned and shaped, it can also be used in your plan for hedge gardening. Rose of Sharon naturally grows on multiple stems, but you can easily prune it into a single tree like form.

If you live in the Southeastern US, where summers are extremely hot, and where drought is often a big problem in gardening, Rose of Sharon is the plant for you. Rose of Sharon can tolerate extreme heat – in fact it loves it – and drought once well established.

Rose of Sharon is a delight in the southern summer garden. It remains barren until mid-July; in fact, you may actually think its dead. But, then it gets its light green leaves and sometime in August those beautiful blooms appear. It will keep blooming until the weather cools for fall.

Rose of Sharon is a great plant for attracting hummingbirds and insects to your garden. You can be assured the company of bees and ladybugs when your Rose of Sharon is in bloom. Rose of Sharon is a wonderful addition to your garden, particularly if you live in a climate where many later summer bloomers wither in the heat. Give Rose of Sharon of try for your late summer garden. You’ll have blooms a plenty!

Rose Gardening – Rose of Sharon Maintains Its Popularity is a post from: Gardening Guide

If you haven’t experienced the glorious tuber rose in your garden, you don’t know what you’ve been missing. Growing the tuber rose is easy and can add wonderful color and fragrance to your garden. If you’d like to try growing tuber rose for yourself, here are some tips to get you started.

1. Plant tuber roses in soil with good drainage. Peat moss or compost can be added if your soil doesn’t already have adequate drainage for gardening. Tuber rose requires drier than average soil. One sure way to kill them is to let them get water logged.

2. Give your tuber roses full sun – at least six hours a day.

3. Tuber rose bulbs come in clumps. Plant the whole clump with 2-3 inches of soil above the top. Plant your tuber roses in the spring.

4. Spacing is important in gardening. Tuber roses should be placed 8-10 inches apart.

5. Watering is critical in gardening. Tuber rose should be watered generously after planting and regularly during the growing season.

6. Fertilizer is also a critical element of gardening. Tuber rose requires heavy feeding. During the growth season it’s best to use an 8-8-8 fertilizer.

7. Your tuber roses will bloom in mid to late summer, about 90-120 days after planting. Growing tuber rose is a great way to have lots of cut flowers for bouquets. Just a few stems will fill your home with fragrance.

8. When your tuber roses have finished blooming, it’s best to leave the foliage. The sun will provide nourishment to the bulbs to make sure they flower beautifully again next year.

9. If you live in zone 8 or colder, you should dig your bulbs up after the first frost. Let them air dry for a few days and then store them in paper bags with peat moss until time to replant them next spring.

If you prefer to do so, consider container gardening. Tuber rose will do quite well in pots. Plus if you live in a climate that requires you to dig up the tubers each year, planting in pots might actually be an easier way of gardening. Tuber rose still should be moved after the first frost, but this way, you can simply move the tuber roses, pots and all to a warmer spot, such as your garage. Then just move the pots back out into the sunlight when the weather warms up in the spring.

However you choose to grow them, tuber roses are a lovely addition to your garden. Their delicate blooms and heady fragrance make them a favorite for enjoying in the garden and for cutting. If you’ve never grown a tuber rose, make this your year. You’ll certainly be glad that you did.

Fragrance for Gardening – Tuber Rose is a post from: Gardening Guide