| Many people consider roses as high-maintenance plants. True, some roses are very hard to grow, but others can be grown with minimal of care. All roses will need plenty of sun and water, a little fertilizer, and several inches of mulch to grow. Amazingly, you can have spectacular looking roses with a little bit more effort. So, if you want your roses to become the envy of your neighborhood and provide you with a season full of beautiful flowers, here are some general tips on how to care for them.
Choose the Right Roses
There are thousands of species of roses. Many have been carefully bred for different climates and conditions. Take Buck roses, for example, which are named for Dr. Griffith Buck, a former horticulture professor at Iowa State University. Dr. Buck combined species of roses and then planted them outside in a field for the winter. Only the roses that survived the below zero winters and the hot humid summers of Iowa were introduced. As a result, Buck roses tend to winter well and are very disease resistant.
However if you live in the South, you might want a species that is more resistant to black spot. Black spot is a fungus that can be even more problematic for roses in hot, humid climates. Queen Elizabeth, Carefree Wonder, Carefree Sunshine, Nearly Wild, and The Fairy are just a few examples of varieties that are known to be disease resistant, but there are dozens more. Since different strains of diseases can be more found in different areas, it is important to ask around and find a species that will do the best in your area.
If you don't enjoy gardening or don't have that green of thumb, you will want to find a species that is hardier and will require little maintenance. Types vary depending on your climate, so check with your local gardener.
Location
Location should also be considered when choosing a type of rose. Some roses can grow several feet wide, while others will stay much smaller. Climbing roses are good for that are excellent for ground cover or for covering trellises.
article By Darcy Andries |
