How to Care for Roses
Published on
March 9, 2023 at 9:54:33 PM PST March 9, 2023 at 9:54:33 PM PSTth, March 9, 2023 at 9:54:33 PM PST
Roses can bring you many years of beautiful blooms with a little care and maintenance.
Planting:
- Prefer sunny, open space
- Dig a hole that is large and deep enough for the soil/root ball
- Roses should be planted at the same depth as they are in the pot
- Backfill with the existing soil, mixed with part organic matter and part Structure Soil Conditioner
- Firm down the planting mix with your hands
- Water regularly during dry weather in spring and summer
- Mulch with a 2-3” layer of shredded mulch.
Spacing:
- Check your variety tag for the mature width
- Plant far enough apart to allow good air circulation around the rose to prevent disease
Shaping:
- Maintain the desired shape by trimming shoots as needed during growing season
- DO NOT prune climbing roses
- Most climbing roses bloom based on previous years growth
- Only remove tips that are dead on the climbing roses
Rose Collars:
- Use rose collars on hybrid roses after a hard freeze in the fall
- Rose collars are approximately 9-12” in height and 12” in diameter
- Fill collars with a good mulch to protect the rose bud union from fluctuating temps
- The open top reflects the sun and stops heat build-up, preventing premature sprouting in the spring
Deadheading:
- Regular removal of dead blooms will encourage new flowers
- When flowers have faded, remove the whole cluster
- For hybrid roses cut the stem just above a set of 5 leaves
- Old flowers on shrub roses can be removed anywhere below the flower
- This helps save the plants energy, ensuring new flowering shoots and will keep your rose bushes flowering all season
Proper Feeding:
- Roses, like most garden plants, make heavy demands on soil nutrients
- Feeding is recommended throughout spring and summer - you’ll be rewarded with color all season
Knock Out Roses
Shrub Variety
Full Sun
4.5-5.5' tall, 4.5-5.5' wide
- Vibrant color
- Easy maintenance
- Fast growth rate
- Prune in late winter / early spring
- Available in several colors & sizes
- Easy Elegance Series is a great shrub rose
Hybrid Tea Rose
Hybrid Variety
Full Sun
3-4' tall, 2-4' wide
- Large, fragrant blooms
- Everblooming
- Beautiful cut flowers
- Medium growth rate
- Floribunda, Grandiflora & Climbing roses are also great Hybrids
Drift Rose
Groundcover Variety
Full Sun
2' tall, 2' wide
- Blooms mid-spring to fall
- Enjoys moist, well-drained soil
- Small-medium blooms
- Quickly fills space
- Low maintenance
- Flower Carpet Series is a groundcover rose