A classical-style urn is the final element in this formal rose garden and Gilmer fills it with dangling, ground-cover roses that spill over the top (figure A). The light-colored flowers provide visual contrast with the darker surface of the urn. The completed garden boasts tons of color and is the highlight of this backyard (figure B). To keep your rose garden blooming and beautiful, you must water and fertilize your roses regularly. Roses are incredibly heavy feeders and they prefer slightly acidic soil with good drainage. Instructions: - Fertilize often (figure C). A medium-sized rose bush takes one cup of 16-16-16 fertilizer every month. Choose a fertilizer containing equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.
- Use compost as your mulching material. Compost creates humus and humus encourages plant growth. Humus is material resulting from decomposing plant or animal matter.
- Paint fresh cuts of rose canes with latex paint to decrease moisture loss, dieback and insect infestation.
- Clip dead flowers regularly to prevent rose hips from forming. Rose hips use a lot of the plant's energy and can prevent the production of flowers.
Expert tip (Chris Greenwood, rosarian): Roses need to be protected from freezing in the Northern part of the country. To insulate them from the cold, try piling mulch high on top of the plants or building a protective shelter.
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