1. Dig an appropriate sized hole for the root ball, loosening surrounding soil. Usually a 2ft by 2ft hole for large roses and a 1 foot hole for minis.
2. Add some compost or well rotted manure to the hole plus a handful of bone meal. Mix gently and taste ( just kidding). Spread the roots over this
mixture positioning the crown at the soil level or slightly below, and refill around the roots with more of your good mixture. Firm the plant and water
well. Water is really the secret in helping a rose or any plant get off to a good start in life. Remember to water a new plant often, especially if the weather turns hot.
Fertilizing
This is the really easy part of rose growing. The first and most important type of rose food is plain old water. A rose that is well watered throughout
the summer will grow far better than one that's treated to loads of chemical rose foods but little water. I use organic fertilizer outside with great success.
Seakelp is excellent as are fish fertilizers and Canola meal. Many people like the all purpose rose foods available in most garden centres.
Try not to get to hung up on stuffing your rose plant full of rose foods, and apply only a small handful about every six weeks if you remember.
Fertilizer should not be applied after July 15 , as the plants need to use up what's in the soil and 'harden up' for winter. If all of this sounds too confusing,
just throw a handful down before and after the first bloom, and your sure to get pretty roses.
Pests & Diseases
The old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" certainly holds true here.
Planting a rose in good soil with plenty of sunshine and air circulation is your first and most important defense against insect and disease problems.
Mildew and Blackspot are the two most troublesome problems but with a little effort can be easily controlled. If you don't want to spray fungicides at
all, then be sure to plant disease- free roses like the Rugosas or one of the healthiest of the others. Strip off all the leaves before your rose begins to
regrow in the spring and watch for any sign of trouble.
Most home gardeners can grow great roses without the use of insecticides. Aphids are easily washed off a plant or are soon eaten up by
beneficial insects in a healthy garden. Other insects can be picked off or given the hose treatment. Spider mites are a real problem for people
who spray often, but seldom bother the organic garden. When it comes to insects and disease, roses are truly highly over- rated, as many other
types of plants from tomatoes to carrots have their troubles but we seem to demand perfection from our roses. Try not to be to concerned about
the odd spoiled leaf but take reasonable precautions against bad outbreaks.
I have often wondered why people make such a fuss over growing roses and worry about the insects and diseases that could strike, and miss
all the fun. I guess roses are just one of those plants that exude such majestic beauty, that we assume they must be difficult to cultivate. In my few
short years of growing roses I have learned two things: some people just love complaining about roses, while others just love roses.
(By Brad Jalbert)
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