Garden Tips

Rose Classification

Although there is no one set of “official” classification system
of roses, there are many different popular rose classification
schemes that are employed throughout the world. The most popular
of the systems in use has been proposed by The American Rose
Society in cooperation with the World Federation of Roses.
Although this classification system is not the only one in use,
a large majority of internationally established societies have
adopted this scheme for classifying roses.

According to the American Rose Society, there are three main
groupings of roses: the Species; Old Garden Roses; and Modern
Roses. Species Roses, the origin of every other rose class, are
commonly referred to as “wild roses.” These “wild roses” are
easy to identify, as they normally have five petals, are
once-blooming, and are generally thorny shrubs or climbers.
Several popular Species Roses include: Cherokee Roses, Dog
Roses, Gallic Roses, French Roses, and Redleaf Roses. Species
Roses can be found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, as they
flourish in temperate climates.

Unlike Species Roses, which existed millions of years before man
walked the earth, Old Garden Roses are identified as a major
class of roses recognized before 1867.

Most Old Garden Roses bloom once per season, usually at the
arrival of summer. Old Garden Roses occur in a variety of shrub
and vine sizes. Although colors vary, Old Garden Roses are
typically white or pastel in color. These “antique roses” are
generally preferred for lawns and home gardening because they
are easy to care for. Several groupings of roses are classified
as Old Garden Roses including: China, Tea, Moss, Damask,
Bourbon, Hybrid Perpetual and Noisette roses. Many “antique
roses” have a strong sweet scent, which makes them very
desirable.

Old Garden Roses are the predecessors of Modern Roses. Any rose
which has been identified post 1867 is considered a Modern Rose.
This group of roses are very popular. The Modern Rose is the
result of cross breeding the hybrid tea with the polyanthus. The
colors of a Modern Rose are lovely, rich and vibrant. Most of
the roses found in this class flower repeatedly when cared for
properly. Perhaps that is why horticulturists find this class so
attractive. The most popular roses found in the class of Modern
Roses are the hybrid tea, floribunda, and grandiflora. Although
Modern Roses are adored by florists and gardeners, they do not
adapt well to colder environments.

After a rose has been classified according to the three main
groupings, a rose can then be further classified by color,
scent, growth habit, ancestry, date of introduction, blooming
characteristics and size. It is very difficult for
horticulturists to classify every rose, especially the hybrid
roses which often seem like a grouping of their own. While there
has been much debate on classifying roses, the American Rose
Society appears to have the most functional system for these
stages of classification. Perhaps this is why the American Rose
Society’s classification system has been adopted by so many
rosarians the world over

The Rose Tattoo Designs – so Many Meanings in One Simple Flower

Without doubt the rose is the most adored breed of flower throughout the world. One would have to guess that the popularity of the rose has been linked to the romantic connotations that roses have between lovers. Every woman would appreciate a bunch of roses or even a single rose from their lover as a token of their love and affection. The red rose in particular undoubtedly the most popular color and relates strongly to romance as well as sexual relationships. To other people the rose may have other symbolic meanings.

For example it is claimed in folklore that both Aphrodite who was the Greek Goddess of Love, and Venus who was Aphrodite’s Roman equivalent, revered the red rose. The red rose has religious connections and is symbolic of the Virgin Mary. The people who claim to have witnessed a vision of Mary say that her appearance is always accompanied by the smell of roses.

If you are considering having a rose tattoo design, but are reluctant to because of the romantic implications, don’t worry – I have seen many masculine guys wearing a rose tattoo, often as a reminder of departed loved ones. Some creative guys have even incorporated the rose into a multi-image tattoo such as having a snake curled around a dagger imbedded in a rosebush.

English Roses

Here is a bit of history for you! Do you know why a beautiful English woman is typically referred to as “An English Rose”? Well it is related to some of Shakespeare’s writings where he refers to the red rose and compares his love (lady) with a red rose in the line, “O my love is like a red, red rose”.

As well as having a romantic connotation the rose is also reflective of more aggressive situations, for example, the image of roses are the family symbols of two of England’s famous and feuding families – the Lancasters (whose Family emblem is the red rose) and the Yorks (whose coat of arms is made up of white rose).

In addition to this one of Britain’s dominant political parties, the Labor Party, is symbolized by red roses.

Guns ‘N’ Roses

Another more masculine use of the rose tattoo design involves the 1980’s rock band ‘Guns ‘n’ Roses’, The members of the Band were well known for their hard rocking music and lifestyle yet they all wore tattoos incorporating the image of the rose albeit with tattoos of guns. As a result many fans both male and female emulated the band members by getting tattoos with images of guns and roses.

Rose Tattoo Designs – Selecting The Color

The color of a rose has significance and meaning, so before you commit to a particular design you should choose the color that best represents the symbolism of your tattoo.

* A red rose embodies the conventional color choice and exemplifies

beauty, love, bravery, passion and romanticism

* A red rose bud constitutes a symbol of pureness and loveliness

* A dark red rose stands for unconscious beauty

* A gold rose represents accomplishment

* A pink rose bespeaks friendship, appreciation, grace, happiness

and gentleness

* A light pink rose symbolizes understanding and sweetness

* A white rose conveys sinlessness, innocence, silence, privacy,

reverence, humbleness, youthfulness and charm

* A yellow rose personifies joyfulness, happiness, jealousy or an apology

* A lavender rose intends fascination

* A coral rose symbolizes desire

* A blue rose represents impossibilities

* A black rose traditionally represents sorrow and death

For those considering having a rose style tattoo, but are concerned that the design does not reflect their true way of life or image, just consider some of the historical facts regarding the rose and feel comfortable with having a tattoo incorporating a rose in the design.

The Meaning of Roses

There are few flowers that hold the allure and enchantment of a rose. They grow wild in almost all parts of the world and have been hybridized and cultivated to an overwhelming 7,500 varieties. They grow in short or tall bushes, climb walls, fences, and terraces, and appear in long-stemmed bouquets. Old World roses bloom prolifically at the beginning of the summer, while varieties that descend from China frequently bloom well into the autumn. A rose can come in practically any color, from the ever-popular red rose to all shades of white, pink, yellow, peach, orange, green, lavender, and even hues that approach black and blue. They have an equally diverse composition: the blooms can be small or large, tight or open, and consist of five or many petals. Even the fragrance differs widely amongst the species, from heady musk and damask scents to lighter fruit and sweet smells.

The Popularity and Meaning of RosesWith such a wide selection, it is no wonder that roses are the most popular flowers to give as gifts, both in bouquets and as solitary flowers. It is curious, however, that so few people know about the complex history and meaning of roses. The oldest fossilized remains of roses date to 35 million years ago, and they are featured in the early artwork of Greeks, Romans, Persians, Asians, Indians, and Egyptians. It is said that Nebuchadnezzar included roses in his famous Hanging Gardens and Cleopatra strew rose petals at the feet of her love, Marc Antonius. Red Roses SayI Love You Peoples of the Middle East valued roses for their beauty and their scent, which they sought to capture and make into extravagant perfumes. The Romans associated the rose with Venus, their goddess of love. Later Catholics appropriated the rose as the symbol for the Virgin Mary, who became the “rosa mystica”. Governments incorporated roses into their national emblems and even made them symbols of war. The Victorian Era refined the meaning of roses even more, as lovesick suitors used the language of flowers to communicate secret messages to their beloveds.

As in Victorian times, color is the most commonly identified characteristic that distinguishes one rose from another. Most people know that a red rose symbolizes romantic love. Some remember that yellow roses represent friendship and white roses stand for purity, but few recognize the subtle and varied meanings that roses of all shapes, sizes and colors have developed over time. Indeed, roses convey almost as many meanings as they have forms, and seem capable of encompassing every facet of human emotion. Besides love, friendship, and purity, rose colors can convey desire, fascination, thankfulness, innocence, mourning, and just about every nuance in between. Every shade carries its own unique message, and combining colors in a bouquet can send an intimation all its own! .

Although color is important, there are other factors that contribute to the meaning of roses. Sometimes the presentation can send a stronger message than any other factor. Professional florists are experts in the art of presentation: they know when a single rose can be more dramatic than a rose bouquet and are knowledgeable about color and spread of the bloom. Generally, the more diminutive a rose, the newer or fresher the feeling it represents.

Rose buds convey innocence and youth: a gift of a single rose or rose bud tells of young love or a new friendship that promises a hopeful future. Roses and rose bouquets in full bloom convey a feeling of love that has reached maturity and is at the height of its passion. Larger, more developed blooms show continuing, deepening love or commitment. Mixing buds and full rose flowers into one bouquet can represent the stretch of a relationship, from its infancy and promise to its culmination and fulfillment. Such a bouquet can be given at the beginning of a relationship to indicate the hope of what is to come or in the midst of a long-lasting relationship to show appreciation for the time spent together. Taken together with hand-selected colors and an intoxicating scent, appropriate attention to the blooms in a bouquet can help send just the right message.

The Enchantment ofLavender Roses

Roses – A Scent Like No OtherIt seems impossible to separate the mental image of a rose from the sensory memory of its scent. Though by no means uniform, roses have long been famous for the perfume that attracts even the most harried passerby to “stop and smell the roses.” The scent alone has the power to captivate and entrance and thus sends a message all its own. Too often this power is underestimated; be sure to select rose bouquets according to their fragrance as well as appearance. Roses with a strong aroma of damask or musk are associated with serious feelings of intimacy, deep love, and dedication. The damask scent is often considered the essence of the rose: the heady aroma of a Kazanlik or Centifolia clings to the rose’s pedals and creates an aura of mystique surrounding the flowers it favors. The musk scent of Pax, Felicia, and Daphne, however, is free on the air and is capable of bathing an entire room in fragrance. For a lighter scent more appropriate for friendship or get-well bouquets, try roses that have a sweet or fruity side, such as the Hybrid Tea or Old English Garden varieties. These roses emit the scents of youth, jollity, and innocence. Whatever the fragrance, know that the scent of a rose lingers in the memory long after the bloom has wilted. Remember that the meaning of roses is not based on appearance alone, but also relies upon their u! nique and invigorating perfumes.

A professional florist knows how to expertly choose roses of the correct color, shape, and scent to make a bouquet that sends the perfect message. Utilize his/her advice and knowledge of the meaning of roses to create a floral gift that says more than words: Call us today and send that special someone a unique message from the heart

The Meaning of Roses

There are few flowers that hold the allure and enchantment of a rose. They grow wild in almost all parts of the world and have been hybridized and cultivated to an overwhelming 7,500 varieties. They grow in short or tall bushes, climb walls, fences, and terraces, and appear in long-stemmed bouquets. Old World roses bloom prolifically at the beginning of the summer, while varieties that descend from China frequently bloom well into the autumn. A rose can come in practically any color, from the ever-popular red rose to all shades of white, pink, yellow, peach, orange, green, lavender, and even hues that approach black and blue. They have an equally diverse composition: the blooms can be small or large, tight or open, and consist of five or many petals. Even the fragrance differs widely amongst the species, from heady musk and damask scents to lighter fruit and sweet smells.

The Popularity and Meaning of RosesWith such a wide selection, it is no wonder that roses are the most popular flowers to give as gifts, both in bouquets and as solitary flowers. It is curious, however, that so few people know about the complex history and meaning of roses. The oldest fossilized remains of roses date to 35 million years ago, and they are featured in the early artwork of Greeks, Romans, Persians, Asians, Indians, and Egyptians. It is said that Nebuchadnezzar included roses in his famous Hanging Gardens and Cleopatra strew rose petals at the feet of her love, Marc Antonius. Red Roses SayI Love You Peoples of the Middle East valued roses for their beauty and their scent, which they sought to capture and make into extravagant perfumes. The Romans associated the rose with Venus, their goddess of love. Later Catholics appropriated the rose as the symbol for the Virgin Mary, who became the “rosa mystica”. Governments incorporated roses into their national emblems and even made them symbols of war. The Victorian Era refined the meaning of roses even more, as lovesick suitors used the language of flowers to communicate secret messages to their beloveds.

As in Victorian times, color is the most commonly identified characteristic that distinguishes one rose from another. Most people know that a red rose symbolizes romantic love. Some remember that yellow roses represent friendship and white roses stand for purity, but few recognize the subtle and varied meanings that roses of all shapes, sizes and colors have developed over time. Indeed, roses convey almost as many meanings as they have forms, and seem capable of encompassing every facet of human emotion. Besides love, friendship, and purity, rose colors can convey desire, fascination, thankfulness, innocence, mourning, and just about every nuance in between. Every shade carries its own unique message, and combining colors in a bouquet can send an intimation all its own! .

Although color is important, there are other factors that contribute to the meaning of roses. Sometimes the presentation can send a stronger message than any other factor. Professional florists are experts in the art of presentation: they know when a single rose can be more dramatic than a rose bouquet and are knowledgeable about color and spread of the bloom. Generally, the more diminutive a rose, the newer or fresher the feeling it represents.

Rose buds convey innocence and youth: a gift of a single rose or rose bud tells of young love or a new friendship that promises a hopeful future. Roses and rose bouquets in full bloom convey a feeling of love that has reached maturity and is at the height of its passion. Larger, more developed blooms show continuing, deepening love or commitment. Mixing buds and full rose flowers into one bouquet can represent the stretch of a relationship, from its infancy and promise to its culmination and fulfillment. Such a bouquet can be given at the beginning of a relationship to indicate the hope of what is to come or in the midst of a long-lasting relationship to show appreciation for the time spent together. Taken together with hand-selected colors and an intoxicating scent, appropriate attention to the blooms in a bouquet can help send just the right message.

The Enchantment ofLavender Roses

Roses – A Scent Like No OtherIt seems impossible to separate the mental image of a rose from the sensory memory of its scent. Though by no means uniform, roses have long been famous for the perfume that attracts even the most harried passerby to “stop and smell the roses.” The scent alone has the power to captivate and entrance and thus sends a message all its own. Too often this power is underestimated; be sure to select rose bouquets according to their fragrance as well as appearance. Roses with a strong aroma of damask or musk are associated with serious feelings of intimacy, deep love, and dedication. The damask scent is often considered the essence of the rose: the heady aroma of a Kazanlik or Centifolia clings to the rose’s pedals and creates an aura of mystique surrounding the flowers it favors. The musk scent of Pax, Felicia, and Daphne, however, is free on the air and is capable of bathing an entire room in fragrance. For a lighter scent more appropriate for friendship or get-well bouquets, try roses that have a sweet or fruity side, such as the Hybrid Tea or Old English Garden varieties. These roses emit the scents of youth, jollity, and innocence. Whatever the fragrance, know that the scent of a rose lingers in the memory long after the bloom has wilted. Remember that the meaning of roses is not based on appearance alone, but also relies upon their u! nique and invigorating perfumes.

A professional florist knows how to expertly choose roses of the correct color, shape, and scent to make a bouquet that sends the perfect message. Utilize his/her advice and knowledge of the meaning of roses to create a floral gift that says more than words: Call us today and send that special someone a unique message from the heart

Roses – a Perfect Gift (learn About Sending & Caring)

ROSE CARE INSTRUCTIONS Roses are normally shipped in bud form with the outer guard petal left on to protect the roses during shipment. Remove the foliage below the water line, and remove the outer “guard petal” on each rose, left on to protect the flower during shipment. Please also remove any outer rose petals that may have gotten bruised during shipping. Fresh roses drink heavily, so make sure you check the water level daily and replace with fresh water and add more flower food if necessary .

Roses – Celebrated as the “flower of love” roses are by far the most popular flowers in the world. With a long history as symbols of love, beauty, and romance each color of rose carries a different symbolic meaning. Our roses are shipped in bud form with the outer guard petal left on to protect the rose during shipment.
Rose Flower Bouquet Estimated Vase Life – 5 – 8 days
Rose Flower Meaning - love (red), friendship (yellow), innocence (white), and happiness (pink)
Rose Bouquet Care Tip 1 - Remove the foliage below the water line, and remove the outer “guard petal” on each rose, left on to protect the flower during shipment. Please also remove any outer petals that may have gotten bruised during shipping.
Rose Bouquet Care Tip 2 - Roses drink heavily, so make sure you check the water level daily and replace with fresh water and add more flower food if necessary. This will increase the vase life of your roses by 30 to 50%.
Rose Flower Bouquet Arranging Tip – Remove outer wilted petals to ensure the roses bloom to their maximum
IMPORTANT TIP for Rose Flowers – Wilted Roses may be revived by placing them under light warm water. Trim off about an inch from the bottom of the stem and then submerge the entire rose under water in a sink or bathtub. Allow the stem to absorb water for 20-60 minutes, enough time for the rose to replenish itself.

Rose Flower History: The rose has been cultivated and valued for perhaps 5,000 years, its origin appearing to have been with the China rose, Rosa chinensis. Around 500 BC, the rose was introduced into Egypt and from there it traveled to the Middle East, where it became known as the damask rose and was highly prized for its perfume. The history of rose flower in the United States began in 16th century, when the colonists planted the first rose plant in North America. Empress Josephine in the year 1798, established the first rose garden which had approximately 250 varieties of rose flowers. The modern hybrid rose was invented in the year 1867. The world popular rose named ‘peace’ was smuggled from France to the United States in 1945.

Rose Bouquet Care Tips: Roses are shipped in bud form with the outer guard petal left on to protect the rose during shipment. Immediately remove your rose bouquet from the fedex box upon arrival. Here are some simple suggestions to make your fresh cut rose bouquet last longer:

Remove the outer guard petals of your roses and any leaves that fall below the waterline that might decay under water.

Holding the rose stems end under water, cut about 1/2 inch off the stem with a sharp knife.

Place your rose bouquet in a vase filled 3/4th with luke warm water mixed with a packet of floral preservative. It is important that you do this Immediately after cutting the rose stems, as the stems tend to get blocked unable to take in water, if left exposed to the air.

Keep your rose bouquet away from the heating and air vents and also never set them on a TV.   Every 3 to 4 days, empty the water, wash the vase, re-cutting the rose stems as necessary.

Tips For Rose Bush Care

Roses are surprisingly easy plants to grow and ones that will supply your home with beautiful vases full of colorfull blooms.  There are so many varieties to choose from.  You only need to remember three things to achieve good rose bush care.  First, is rose bush choice, second, is how much water and fertilizer, and finally, apprpriate pruning.  I would suggest getting a guide such as The Ultimate Book of Roses.  It is a well written guide and very easy to understand with lots of tips on growing fabulous blooms.

The type of rose bush you select is of utmost importance.  Depending on where you live and how much sun your yard gets each day will determine which variety will survive easily.  Disease and fungus can plague some roses so it is best to steer clear of those varieties.  You may want to look into the hardier roses for best results.  Plant the rose bushes about 3 to 4 feet apart to allow enough room for them to flourish. Also, find a location that receives adequate sun.

The most important thing for proper rose bush care is watering and feeding your roses. An early morning soaking at the root base is the best prescription for ultimate bloom potential.  If it is a newly planted rose bush it should be well soaked everyday for at least the first couple of weeks.  After two weeks watering once a week is fine unless you live in a very hot climate.  Enable to keep the ground around your roses wet and weed free surround the bush with some type of mulch.

Feed and fertilize once a month from Spring through the first frost in the Fall.  Roses should receive rose food that has a blend of manure and fish emulsion. It is not recommended to feed or fertilize during the cold winter months.   

When it comes to rose bush care pruning is probably one of the most misunderstood techniques.  You only need to trim them when it is necessary such as when there are dead flowers or branches.  Cut the dead flowers down to the third or fourth branch or node (the small reddish lines). During the first two months of the year, cut back your roses to about two feet.

You probably have a lot of questions that can be easily answered in the Ultimate Book of Roses.

Climbing Rose Bushes

Of all the rose varieties, the climbing rose is one of the most beautiful.  The climbing rose is not really a vine and is also referred to as a rambler, trailing rose and everblooming rose.  Keep in mind when rose planting, that they do not naturally grow in a vine-like method.  But they are the ideal ornament to grace any archway, fence or any other structure in and around any garden. With just a little help the climbing rose can be minipulated to grow over a fence, arbor or gazebo.

As the rose grows carefully tie it to the desired framework.  With a little imagination, you can create a beautiful effect on a garden wall, fence, over a gate or almost anywhere you decide.  Climbing rose plants that are trained to grow laterally rather then vertically often produce more blooms. 

Climbing roses that are coaxed to grow vertically have small clusters of buds.  The climbing rose will need that same type of care as other roses in your garden.  As with your other rose varieties they require over five hours of direct sun.  Even climbing roses that are said to do well in the part shade still need about four to five hours of direct sunlight a day. 

When planning to grow climbing roses in your garden, take into consideration the height or length that these types of roses will grow to.  Some species of climbing roses can grow to be around thirty feet in height.  Some may only reach seven feet.  Pick a structure to attach your rose to that is strong enough for it.

Your rose will thrive if your home has the right climate.  Another thing to consider is which type of climbing rose is going to suit your garden.  Some varieties of climbing roses are everbloomers which means that they bloom all throughout the growing season.  Other varieties are spring bloomers meaning they only bloom in the spring. 

One thing that is different when tending your climbing rose is that it does not need to be pruned as often.  There is no need to prune the plant for the first two years.  This is because, contrary to other roses, if a climbing rose is pruned often it will have less blossoms. 

Actually, with basic rose bush care you really only need to cut back your plants every 3 to 4 years.  Even then, pruning consists of removing small canes and old or less vigorous canes at the base of the plant.  This should promote new, healthier growth to take place.  The young, fresh growth can be woven throught the trellis or other object you would like the rose to attach itself to.

Roses and especially climbing roses, need time to develop into the plant you are desiring.  This type of rose takes some time to get rooted and grounded before you begin to see an abundance of blossoms.  In time you will have a beautiful trellis, fence or arbor just filled with beautiful rose blossoms.

Rose Desrochers’s 7 Tips: How Do You Generate Traffic To Your Website Or Blog?

Ahh yes, the question that is on everyone’s mind is ‘How do you generate traffic to your website or blog?’ Many first-time bloggers assume that you make a few posts, submit your blog to the search engines and traffic will come naturally. It’s not that simple and it takes a little more work than just that.

Here are seven tips to generate traffic to your website or blog.

1. The primary way of promoting any website is by creating valuable content. It is important to have something of value to offer to your readership. Adding quality content to your Web site or blog is the best way to keep visitors returning. Not only will it keep them coming back, but it will encourage them to create links to your website or blog. Make sure that you update your content regularly. Once people realize that you add fresh content regularly, then they will constantly check back to see what is new. The purpose of having a website or blog is to attract regular visitors.

2. You’ve worked really hard on your Blog, but no one is reading it. Read and comment on other blogs, but make sure that you comment on the topic at hand. Don’t ask them to come and visit your blog. Write valuable comments and leave a link to your blog.

3. Technorati currently tracks 35.3 Million weblogs. It is one of the best traffic providers for bloggers. If you don’t already have a Technorati account, you can create one at http://technorati.com. Once you sign up you’ll be required to claim your blog. Technorati will give you two codes. You’ll need to put one of these in your blog for Technorati to verify that your blog exists. Technorati also offers tagging. When you use the tagging system of Technorati, you’re drawing attention to your keywords. Tags tell the search engines which category your posts are under. Many of Technorati tagged pages rank high in search engines. Once you’ve added tags to your post be sure to ping it.

4. Use http://pingoat.com to ping more than 50 directories each time you republish to your blog. What does pinging do? Pinging lets the weblog tracking sites know

that your site has just been updated with fresh new content.

5. Write articles and submit them to article directories. Writing and submitting articles is a free and easy way to drive traffic back to your website. Article directories are a huge hype with new ones sprouting up all over. When a webmaster or blogger uses one of your articles it increases your web exposure though backlinks to your blog or website.

6. If you want to drive traffic to your website or blog and keep visitors returning then why not consider giving something of valuable away. Giving items away for free is a great way to increase traffic. Some of the things that you can give away are free downloads, free e-books or a free audio. If you administrate a community, you might suggest that your members donate something to give away as a way of supporting their community. Also holding a contest is a great way to boost traffic.

7. Make a commit to yourself to blog regularly. All it takes is ten minutes everyday to increase your traffic. Ask any SEO expert and they will tell you that search engines love content. However don’t blog for the sake of blogging. Make sure that what you’re blogging about is of interest to your readership.

There you have it, Rose DesRochers seven important ways to increase traffic to your blog or website. I hope that these suggestions will help you.

Gardening and Caring for Your Rose Types

Gardening and caring for the different rose types

WATERING

Roses are deep rooted and once they are well established are more capable than most plants of surviving mild drought spells. The first spring and summer directly after planting your rose is very important. During this period if the soil around your rose seems to be drying out give your roses a good soaking. Each rose could get about 2 gallons of water. In following years you will only need to water them if drought seems iminent.

FEEDING YOUR ROSES

As with all plants that provide us with beautiful blooms they need plenty of the correct nutrients. Give roses a good helping of blood, bone and fishmeal in early April, about two handfuls to each rose. In June a handful of specially prepared rose fertilizer will give your roses a huge lift. The magnesium and potash gives the rose a great kick. Just work the fertilizer in gently around the soil at the base of the plant.

MULCHING YOUR ROSES.

Mulching is a very simple task with great benefits. Mulching retains moisture, smothers weeds and generally boosts the health of your roses. Well rotted manure is best but garden compost or bark mulch can also be used.

DEADHEADING YOUR ROSES.

Deadheading spent blooms not only tidys up the rose but actually saves the plants energy and thereby encourages more bloom flushes. A light pruning of hybrid teas will encourage a second flush.

WATCH OUT FOR ROSE SUCKERS.

Shoots that emerge from rootstocks are known as suckers. These will be different in coloring and often by the amount of leaves, than what grows from the stems over ground. Gently scrape away the soil until you can see where the sucker is growing from the rootstock, tear the sucker away cleanly.

CONTROL OF WEEDS.

Mulching is the most effective method of controlling weeds and also the less back breaking.

Hoeing is not as effective and you must take care not to damage the stems.

Sowing other plants underneath the rose is also an option. The least favored option is the application of a rose-bed weedkiller. This will eventually damage the soil and thus your rose.

ROSE DISEASES AND PESTS.

This is an area that turns people off growing roses and really it shouldn’t. Roses have diseases and pests particular to them and as such regular treatment is very effective. The main problems are greenfly, mildew and blackspot.

There are plenty of products that treat these main three problems in one treatment. Performing a regular maintenance schedule starting in April will leave you with very few problems. Do make sure to follow exactly the manufacturers recommendations.

Your roses will respond brilliantly to a little regular maintenance and once you have started your routine there will be very little work attached. Issues will only arise once you neglect your routine and this is what often deters people from growing roses.