Few flowering plants match the beauty and popularity of the rose, but with so many varieties and options, how can you choose the right rose for your yard?
First, consider your planting site. To be a successful rose grower, provide the three S's:
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Sun. Roses need full sun for at least six hours a day. Grow them in open areas away from trees, shrubs or the shade of tall buildings.
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Space. Roses don't like to be crowded. If air movement through the plants is blocked, foliage diseases like black spot can become a problem. Recommended plant spacing for hybrid teas is 3 to 5 feet; for grandifloras, 2 to 4 feet; floribundas, 2 to 3 feet; shrub roses, 4 to 8 feet; and miniatures, 6 to 12 inches. Consider the mature size of the plant when choosing your location.
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Soil. Roses don't like wet feet; they need well-drained, slightly acidic soil. A pH of 6.5 to 6.8 is ideal. Roses do well in a range of acidity, but soil that's too acid or alkaline deprives the plant of nutrients and inhibits growth. Most garden centers carry a soil test kit that gives a rough estimate of your soil's pH.
When choosing a rose, gardeners often think first of color. But before you decide such details, ask yourself these questions:
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How tall and wide will it grow? Will it be small and petite or is it a variety that will eventually become so large it outgrows the space where's planted?
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Will it require a lot of maintenance? Some roses do. Is it disease resistant? If you want something you can plant and forget, you may want to consider a care-free variety.
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Is it hardy for your area? Will it need winter protection?
Hardiness and winter protection are especially important when growing roses. Choose the right type of rose for your planting site, climate and gardening habits. Some older varieties of garden and shrub roses can survive frigid northern winters unprotected. However, modern bush roses, like the hybrid tea rose, must be protected against low, fluctuating winter temperatures and winds.
In Zones 5 and colder, protect your rose bushes every winter by mounding soil around the base of the canes after the first hard frost. To avoid this winter chore, consider growing a hardy polyantha rose or hardy shrub rose, which are tough plants that can tolerate neglect and poor growing conditions.
Mail order is often the only way to get some hard-to-find roses and a lot of the old, heritage types. Plants are shipped bare-root and dormant and will begin growing as soon as they're planted. When ordering roses by mail, here are a few things to look for:
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Get plants that are one to two years old.
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Make sure the plants will be shipped according to the proper planting time in your area--not too early to too late.
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Unpack the plants as soon as they arrive and look them over carefully. If you discover any problems, such as dead or moldy canes, call the mail-order company right away and make arrangements to return the plant.
Mid-spring is the ideal time for planting roses. In northern climates, plant roses as soon as the soil thaws; in southern climates, plant them as soon as they are available in stores
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thank you for reading, wish it useful for you, happy gardening and have a nice day
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