Get Started Growing Roses

Roses are probably the most popular flowering shrub of all time. They have withstood the test of time, culture and geographical boundaries.

From time immemorial, roses have been cultivated around the world. Garlands of roses have been found in Egyptian pyramids. Roses are mentioned in the most ancient of texts.

The rose is a powerful symbol that has associated with romance, passion, feminine divinity and beauty. Roses come in various colour choices and literally thousands of subspecies.

Rose cultivation can be particularly intimidating for a beginner, especially as there are some many options and varieties to choose from. Additionally, common conception about roses is that they are very difficult to raise, slight lack of care can destroy them, etc etc.

None of this is true, however. While some rose species do require a good amount of tending and care, many other rose species hav survived for millennia in the wild, without any pruning or care from human beings.

So if you are a beginner looking to raise some beautiful roses, you can easily do so by following the tips below:

1. Talk to the nursery workers

Nursery workers will be happy to provide you direction on rose shrubbing. Tell them exactly what you want, how much experience you have, and what your space/budget/available time is. Based on this information, the nursery workers can recommend a rose variety that is just perfect for you. As there are literally thousands of rose varieties, finding just the right fit for you should not be a difficult task.

2. It all starts with the planting

When you are transferring the rose shrub to a pot or your garden, it is important to set it down appropriately. This can be the deciding factor in how fast or how well your rose plant grows.

Prior to planting the rose, the soil should be very well fertilized. A good rose plant that I s cared for appropriately can live well up to 15 years.

Dig a large hole in the soil that is big enough for all the roots to go in. Spread the roots out. For fast recovery and growth, you can sprinkle Rootgrow formula over the roots. About an inch or two of stem should also go into the hole. Cover up the hole with the loose soil and pat it down gently. Water the newly planted rose with about a gallon of water.

3. Water regularly

Most rose plants need regular and deep watering to maintain a large number of vibrantly colored flowers. The nursery people should be able to set up a watering routine for you. Do not stray from this routine.
Roses should also be watered regularly in non flowering seasons to maintain good condition of the plant. A rose shrub that is always in good condition is much more likely to give a better flowering than one that is only cared for just before flowering season.

4. Rose feeds

Rose shrubs are voracious eaters. The nursery workers can recommend some feeds for you. Ideally they are used when the first leaves start to appear in the flowering season. They may also be used after the first flush of flowering to ensure that the next round of flowering is as vibrant as the last.

Apart from these feeds, it’s also important to keep the soil well fertilized and containing enough essential natural ingredients – a rose plant that is deficient of nutrients simply will not give good looking flowers.

5. Pruning

A few rose plants, such as some wild rose varies, require no pruning. But the modern domestic roses require some pruning in order to get more flowers. Roses should be pruned in the winter to create a plant that is ready for the flowering season in the summer.

During pruning, the size of the rose plant is reduced to about a half. Outward facing stems can be cut off about an inch above the outward facing buds.

The real trick to raising great roses is not to be intimidated by them. With a little love and care, you can grow some of the most beautiful roses. Its takes some time to get used to, but is a truly rewarding experience.