| Site
Selection |
| 1. |
Roses need a minimum of six hours of
direct sunlight daily. Morning sun is more preferable
than afternoon sun. |
| 2. |
Check how big a mature rose will
grow and space them so there is plenty of room for air
circulation around them. Good air circulation will
help prevent many fungal diseases. |
| 3. |
Avoid planting in small, enclosed
areas or courtyards that will hamper good air circulation. |
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| Bed
Preparation |
| 1. |
A well prepared bed means healthy
vigorous roses. |
| 2. |
Good soil drainage is essential.
If soil is mostly clay or slow-draining - expanded shale can
be added to improve drainage. |
| 3. |
When planting, dig whole twice as
wide and deep as the container. |
| 4. |
Plant to the same depth the plant
was growing in the container. |
| 5. |
Mix the soil removed from the
planting hole with organic material such as a good compost
or humus. In sandy soils, use the extra soil to form a
shallow bowl about one foot in diameter around the base of
the rose to help hold water and give it a chance to soak in
instead of just running off. This mix should be about
a 50/50 mixture. |
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| Mulch |
| 1. |
Mulch is key to producing beautiful
roses .... don't forget to use it! |
| 2. |
Add three to four inches of mulch to
the whole rose bed ... not just around each plant.
Shredded pine straw or shredded pine bark mulch will look
natural. |
| 3. |
Mulch helps the drainage, retain
moisture, and to control weeds. |
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| Watering |
| 1. |
Water newly planted roses as soon as
they are planted. |
| 2. |
Give established roses at least one
to two inches of water a week. |
| 3. |
The use of drip irrigation or a
soaker hose is the best way to water. This allows the
water to soak in deep and encourages the root system to be
deep and healthy. |
| 4. |
Unless watering in the early
morning, try not to get the leaves wet. This will help
prevent fungal diseases. |
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| Fertilizer |
| 1. |
Roses need good light and regular
feedings to thrive. |
| 2. |
When first planted, use a slow
release fertilizer high in nitrogen. |
| 3. |
After new growth appears, a good
water-soluble fertilizer can be used every couple of
weeks. |
| 4. |
Do not fertilize heat or water
stressed plants ... ever. |
| 5. |
Feed sparingly in the winter. |
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| Disease
Control |
| 1. |
No rose is immune to disease. |
| 2. |
Black Spot and powdery mildew, along
with other diseases, can be controlled with a fungicide. |
| 3. |
The new systemic controls are
effective but their environmental impact is still in
question and probably should not be used. |
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| Insect
Control |
| 1. |
The two bugs that will give you the
most trouble are aphids and thrips. The aphids can be
found on new growth and at the tips of the flower
buds. The thrips are harder to spot because they hide
deep in the center of the bloom. |
| 2. |
A light infestation can usually be
controlled with organic measures. For a heavy or
persistent attack you will have to resort to using a
chemical insecticide to regain control of the situation. |
| 3. |
Never apply chemicals to water or
heat stressed plants. |
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| Spider
Mites |
| 1. |
Spider mites are very small and
almost impossible to see. Look for discolored leaves
and a very light silky webbing on the underside of the
leaves. |
| 2. |
The best control is to hit the
leaves with a strong stream of water each morning for three
consecutive days. |
| 3. |
Insecticidal oils or soaps are
effective and won't harm most beneficial insects. |
| 4. |
As a last resort, use a miticide
chemical control. |
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