Growing Roses—No Other Gardening
May Be As Enjoyable

People who have received roses in pots as gifts often fall so in love with their bushes that they want to replant them in their garden. Growing roses can be the best choice that you ever made.

Here are the steps that will have you growing roses in no time.

Plant contained roses in the spring, after you're absolutely positive that there's no chance of the frost until the end of the season.

If you live in a warmer climate like Florida or California, plant in the early autumn, once the weather has cooled off a bit.

Choose roses that don't have any flowers on them. You're simply trying to establish your roses.

You're not trying to make them flower just yet. If you have to, trim the flowers off before you plant your bushes.

Choose the right environment for your roses. You'll want to plant them in an area of the garden that receives a lot of sunlight in the morning (at least 6 hours worth).

The early morning sunlight helps to dry the dew off of the flowers and leaves, which will help prevent fungal diseases.

If you want the transition of your roses from a pot to your garden to go smoothly, prepare your soil very well. It needs to be well drained for the health of your roses.

Once you've prepared your soil, work several spades of compost into the planting hole after digging a hole that's about two feet deep.

Tap your rose from its original container and plant it. Position it so that the soil level of the rose matches the soil level of the surrounding soil.

Finally, dig a mote-like ring around the bush so that you can pool the water.

That's all there is to growing roses. It can be very rewarding to plant your very own rose garden.

Growing Roses Organically

People are now getting into growing all things organic, so it's natural that you might want to grow your roses that way also. Many people have problems using the chemical pesticides and insecticides that go along with growing roses conventionally, and keeping them healthy.

You can use more natural methods of growing your roses. This section shows you how, step by step.

1. Each bush will need to have a foot of space all around it so that the flowers can get the proper amount of air circulation, which helps to prevent leaf diseases on your roses.
2. Purchase organic roses. Buy roses that have a sturdy green stem and no blemishes on them. Bare root roses are best for this.
3. Along with roses that have green stems, look for stems that have evenly spaced leaves that are close together.
4. Use well drained soil so that you can give the bush all of the water and nutrients that it needs, from the root to the flower's head.
5. Fix the soil so that you can build organically. Use a raised bed if drainage is a constant problem. Ask your local garden center rep about how best to fix your soil to be organically correct.
6. Soak your bare root roses in a large container of compost tea for many hours before you plant them.
7. Mound up enough good organic soil mixed with an equal amount of compost in the middle so that you can spread the roots out and down from where they meet at the trunk.
8. Now, plant the rose at the point where the stem leads into the root so that it's at soil level, or approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the surface if you live in an area that's prone to hard winters.
9. Check your bare root roses first. If your roots grow out in a tight circle, cut a straight slice down each of its four sides. A knife is good for this. Then you will dig a hole that is 2 inches (5 cm) deeper than the container and at least twice as wide.
10. Mix your organic garden soil with an equal amount of compost and use your hands to gently spread the roots into the soil mix.
11. Mulch to help prevent your roses from being exposed to weeds, and water stress complications. The mulch will also ensure that your roses remain at a low maintenance level.
12. Feed your roses organically also. Give them organic fertilizer and maintain a regular watering schedule.
13. Water your organic roses deep at the planting, and then once every week, using a soaker hose, during growing season to promote deep roots. Watering in the early morning is best so that the heat of the day dries any water that may have splashed onto the leaves and stem.

14. Cultivate the top inch of soil around each of your roses and fertilize on a monthly basis with a balanced organic fertilizer. You'll need a good granular type of fertilizer that you can work into the soil.

    Or use a fish emulsion or seaweed-plus-molasses product that you can mix with water. They have all the necessary nutrients that a healthy flower needs. Check the ingredients listed on the label to ensure that these products have nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron and calcium.

15. To help protect your bed against the various types of pests and insects that can plague your roses, mix 1 ounce liquid seaweed with 1 ounce molasses and spray the foliage every two weeks, which serves as a foliar fertilizer also.
16. If your pest problem is severe enough, spray an insecticidal over your bushes.

Now you have the knowledge to grow roses organically. Your flowers will be just as beautiful as those grown with conventional, chemical methods. Now it's time to put your new knowledge to work, creating a beautiful rose garden on your property.

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