A Beginner's Guide to Planting and Growing Roses
A sampling of my Hybrid Tea Rose Garden with Goddess Rose in the background as overseer of the roses.
Welcome to Wealth of WOW! This blog post, from the Gardening WOW category, is designed to teach budding rose gardeners some basics about growing roses. Roses, known for their captivating beauty and enchanting fragrance, can be a truly rewarding addition to any garden. Whether you're a gardening novice or a seasoned bloomer looking to expand your horticultural horizons in the rose species, this beginner's guide will help you confidently plant and grow roses.
Choosing the Right Rose
There are many types of roses, each with its own characteristics.
Hybrid Tea Roses: Hybrid tea roses, the epitome of elegance and versatility, are renowned for their classic, elegant blooms and long, sturdy stems. This makes them popular choices for cut flowers, wedding bouquets, and formal garden displays. With their large, high-centered flowers and a wide array of colors and fragrances available, hybrid tea roses are appreciated by many for their beauty and versatility. To thrive and produce their best blooms, these roses require diligent care, including regular pruning, fertilizing, and pest management. Despite their need for nurturing, their stunning flowers and graceful appearance make them prized additions to gardens, serving as focal points in flower beds, borders, or standalone specimens. Varieties such as 'Mister Lincoln,' 'Peace,' and 'Double Delight' exemplify hybrid tea roses' timeless allure and sophistication. They are not just any type of rose, but my favorite type of rose, and I have over 40 of them in a host of colors and varieties. Their elegance and versatility have inspired me in my gardening journey, and I'm sure they will inspire you, too.
Floribunda Roses: Floribunda roses, the essence of ease and beauty, are beloved for their abundant clusters of colorful blooms and compact growth habit. They are ideal for garden borders, containers, or mass plantings. These roses are prized for their continuous flowering throughout the growing season, from spring to frost, requiring minimal maintenance and offering excellent disease resistance. With their versatility and ease of care, floribundas are popular choices for adding beauty and color to gardens, whether as accents in flower beds, along pathways, or in containers on patios. If you're concerned that roses might be too challenging, rest assured that the floribunda rose is the perfect first-choice rose to add to your garden. Known for its incredible profusion of blooms in a wide range of colors, this rose bush will be covered in flowers from late spring until the first frost. Popular varieties such as 'Iceberg,' 'Europeana,' and 'Sunsprite' showcase the diversity and charm of these delightful garden roses.
Grandiflora Roses: Grandiflora roses combine the best qualities of hybrid tea and floribunda roses, producing large, elegant blooms often borne in clusters on tall, sturdy stems. These roses are known for their vigorous growth and prolific flowering, providing continuous color throughout the growing season. Grandiflora roses make striking additions to garden beds and borders, adding height and drama with their impressive blossoms. Varieties such as 'Queen Elizabeth' and 'Gold Medal' showcase the beauty and versatility of Grandiflora roses, making them cherished choices for both cutting gardens and landscape design.
Climbing Roses: Climbing roses are celebrated for their vigorous growth and ability to cover walls, trellises, arbors, and fences with stunning blooms. These roses produce long canes that can be trained to climb and spread, creating breathtaking vertical displays of color and fragrance. With their ability to bloom repeatedly throughout the season, climbing roses bring a sense of romance and elegance to any garden. Popular varieties like 'New Dawn,' 'Don Juan,' and 'Eden' showcase the versatility and beauty of climbing roses, making them ideal for adding height, structure, and visual interest to outdoor spaces.
Shrub Roses: Shrub roses are low maintenance, versatile and hardy. They are known for their robust growth and abundant blooms that cover the plant from top to bottom. They come in various sizes, colors, and fragrances, making them ideal for a wide range of garden settings, from informal hedges to formal landscapes. Shrub roses require minimal maintenance and are often more disease-resistant than other rose types, making them perfect for novice gardeners. Varieties such as 'Knock Out,' 'Bonica,' and 'Graham Thomas' demonstrate the diversity and appeal of shrub roses, providing continuous color and charm throughout the growing season.
Preparing the Soil and Planting New Roses
Choose a Sunny Location
Pick a sunny spot in your garden where your roses can soak up at least six hours of sunlight daily. Yes, like many of us Goddesses, roses are sun worshippers.
Test the Soil
Before planting, test your soil's pH. Roses are picky eaters and prefer slightly acidic soil. Aim for a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. You can get a soil test kit from a garden center or send a sample to a soil testing lab if you are planting an extensive rose garden—think of it as sending your soil to a fancy spa for analysis.
Improve Drainage
If your soil is more like it's ready to mold a bowl from it (clay soil), you'll need to improve it. Dig up the area to a depth of about 18 inches, removing any rocks or debris. Mix in compost, well-rotted manure, or leaf mold to improve texture and fertility. Roses don’t like wet feet, so they most certainly do not want to stand in a puddle!
Amend the Soil
Based on your soil test results, tweak the soil like you're perfecting Grandma's secret recipe to achieve a rich loamy soil that drains well. Add lime to sweeten it if it’s too acidic (pH below 6.0). If it’s too alkaline (pH above 7.0), add sulfur to give it some zest. Organic matter like compost or even some good old-fashioned sheep poop will also help balance the soil's pH and provide essential nutrients – it’s like giving your roses a balanced diet. Hey, if it makes them happy, go for it!
Prepare the Planting Hole
Dig a hole that’s twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball of your rose plant. Think of it as giving your roses a luxurious penthouse suite in which to live. A hole about 18-24 inches wide and 18 inches deep should do the trick.
Add Organic Matter
Mix the excavated soil with compost or well-rotted sheep manure. Aim for a ratio of about one part organic matter to two parts soil. This nutrient-rich blend will give your roses the perfect start for healthy growth and glorious, abundant blooms.
Incorporate Fertilizer
Adding a slow-release fertilizer specifically formulated for roses can give your plants a good start. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the appropriate amount. Mix it thoroughly with the soil at the bottom of the hole. Your roses will thank you with blooms galore.
Water the Hole
Before planting, fill the hole with water and let it drain. It’s like giving your new plant a pre-soak treatment to avoid transplant shock.
Plant Your Rose
Place the rose plant in the hole, spreading the roots out gently. For container-grown roses that most of us buy, plant them at the same depth they were growing in the container. The soil line on the rose should be level with the surrounding soil in the garden. Basically, keep it snug and cozy!
Backfill and Water
Fill the hole halfway with the amended soil, then water it to settle the soil around the roots. Finish filling the hole with the remaining soil, forming a slight mound around the base of the plant. Water thoroughly again to ensure good soil-to-root contact and eliminate air pockets. Roses like a good drink after all that trauma and drama of relocating them from their comfy container.
Mulch
Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base of the rose, keeping it a few inches away from the stem. Mulch helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Think of it as tucking your roses in with a comfy blanket.
Caring for Your Roses
Once planted, roses need ongoing care:
Watering
Water deeply once a week, increasing to twice a week in hot, dry weather. Roses generally prefer to be watered directly at the base rather than from a sprinkler. While sprinklers can provide adequate moisture, there are some potential issues. Sprinklers wet the leaves, which can promote fungal diseases like black spot and powdery mildew, especially in humid climates.
Watering at the base ensures that the water reaches the roots directly, which is more efficient and beneficial for the plant. Sprinklers can lead to water wastage through evaporation and runoff. If you do use a sprinkler, it's best to water early in the morning.
This allows the foliage to dry out during the day, reducing the risk of disease. For optimal rose care, use a soaker hose, drip irrigation, or a watering can to water the plants at their base. This method keeps the foliage dry and ensures that the roots receive the moisture they need.
Fertilizing
Feed roses with a balanced fertilizer in early spring, after the first bloom, and again in mid-summer.
Pruning
Prune in early spring to shape the plant and remove dead or diseased wood. Deadhead spent flowers throughout the growing season to encourage more blooms.
Managing Pests and Diseases
Roses can be susceptible to a few uninvited pests and unwanted diseases, but with vigilance, you can keep them healthy:
Aphids
Spray with a mixture of water and a few drops of dish soap.
Black Spot and Powdery Mildew
Ensure good air circulation and apply fungicidal sprays as needed.
Japanese Beetles
Handpick and dispose of them or use traps.
Enjoying Your Blooms
With the right care, your roses will reward you with beautiful blooms. Here are some tips to enjoy them:
To enjoy your roses as cut flowers, snip roses in the morning for the longest vase life. Cut the stems at an angle and remove leaves that will be below the waterline. To enjoy your roses as often as possible, plant them where you can appreciate their beauty and fragrance, such as near patios, walkways, or windows.
Growing roses can be a delightful and fulfilling gardening experience. You'll enjoy a stunning rose garden by selecting the right variety, planting it properly, and providing ongoing care. Happy gardening!
Stay tuned to Wealth of WOW for more tips and inspiration on enhancing your home and garden! Be sure to check out some of the other categories specifically designed for us Goddesses by exploring our website!
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So, my fellow Goddess, go forth with these newfound tools, and may your journey be adorned with the warmth of self-love and the glow of confidence to embrace your journey to self-nurture.
Live Bold and Shine Brightly like the Goddess you are!
Love, Positive Paula
Author/Mentor/FEMpreneur/Chief Positivity Officer (CPO) of Wealth of WOW
