Caring for Roses

By John Lister

You might be surprised to know that roses are much easier to care for than you think. The important thing to remember is that it's a year round job.

In the spring, you should prune roses as soon as new buds start swelling. These small red buds will eventually become new branches. Start by removing all the dead, or damaged branches, then prune the plant until there are a handful of stems left - if you have more than a few, the plant will become overcrowded.

Then cut these stems down so that each has a red bud at the top facing to the outside, which makes sure the plant grows to a healthier and more attractive shape. You should cut at a slant rather than straight across. This will make sure rain water drains away rather than lodging at the end of the stem.

Occasionally you may see green buds on your plant. These are called suckers and should be removed immediately or they may take over the plant. You will need to pull them off at the root rather than cut them away.

As the roses are growing, be sure to fertilize them regularly. You can use a liquid fertilizer every few weeks, or for an easier technique, you can put a granular rose food into the soil, which should not require further maintenance. There's not necessarily a right or wrong method of fertilizing, as different gardeners have different ideas.

Roses also need a regular supply of water, around an inch a week. If there isn't enough rain to provide this amount steadily, you will need to water the plants yourself to make up the shortfall. Don't water during very bright sunshine or you may burn the leaves. And make sure the leaves are fully soaked, not just sprayed on the surface.

During the summer, you will need to trim dead roses from the bush, which prompts the plant into growing more blooms. You should also put one or two inches of mulch (biodegradable material such as compost or manure) into the soil, which helps prevent disease. If your plants do become diseased, take a cutting and ask a horticultural specialist (such as those at a garden center) for advice on the best pesticide spray to treat the problem.

Around a month before the first winter frosts are due, you should stop fertilizing; otherwise the roses will continue blooming when it is too cold. If you live in a relatively cool region, add a few inches of soil to the bottom of the rose once the winter frosts arrive. If you are in a particularly cold region, you may need to add up to a foot of soil. It's also worth wrapping the plant in a fabric such as hessian (sack cloth) if extreme cold is likely.

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