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