Roses are beautiful plants that come in a wide variety of types, sizes, and colors.
Dress up your yard and garden with a few rose bushes to create a beautiful setting.
When you buy roses, make sure that you follow all the instructions on the tag.
Most roses come with tips on how to plant them correctly.
The proper planting will help the plant become established and remain healthy.
New roses, just like all new plants, need more water than older, established plants.
Watering will help the young roots to grow and will make the plant strong and the flowers beautiful.
When you water roses, try to avoid wetting the leaves.
Never water roses in the evening.
Damp foliage provides conditions that favor pests, insects, diseases, and fungal infections.
Water the roses in the morning to avoid potential problems in the future.
Invest in a soaker hose.
A soaker hose, or drip hose, is perforated with tiny holes that allow the water to slowly seep into the soil.
That way, you can avoid wetting the leaves and wasting water with run-off.
Wind the soaker hose around the base of the plants to make sure all the roses get their fair share of moisture.
Add compost to enrich the soil around the rose.
Nutrients form the compost will act as a healthy fertilizer to keep your roses strong and able to withstand disease.
Cut off spent blooms to encourage new growth.
An early spring pruning, just before the buds emerge also encourages new growth.
Some people use chemical fertilizers on roses.
If you do, follow the instructions on the package.
Too much fertilizer is not good for your plants.
In addition, you need to find the proper fertilizer that would best benefit roses.
Check for insects, fungus, and disease.
If you find a problem, research the appropriate solution for the specific problem.
If the trouble is severe, don't feel bad about removing the whole plant.
You don't want the trouble to spread to your other roses.
Do a little research about rose pruning.
Most roses need to be pruned, or cut back at some time, depending on the type of rose you have.
Rose bushes, in general, should be pruned in early spring, when forsythia blooms.
Learn the proper technique of rose pruning to avoid damaging the shrub with an incorrect cut.
Many rose plants bred today are hardy and disease resistant.
But that does not mean that you can plant a rose, then forget about it.
A little maintenance will go a long way toward keeping your roses healthy, lush, and beautiful.