Roses are one of the most popular subjects among gardeners, but even experienced gardeners have questions about this popular plant. DIY gets dozens of rose-related questions every week. That's why we've asked garden expert Walter Reeves to pick out the most commonly asked questions about roses from the bunch! Here's Walter with today's DIY5.
Roses, roses everywhere -- at least a gardener can dream! There are so many types and choices when it comes to roses, and there's a lot to know about their care! You know that even experienced gardeners have a lot of questions about the proper way to care for these beauties. Whether you have old garden roses, English roses or hybrid teas, these commonly asked questions, should give you the information you need to get your rose garden to grow! 1. How do I prune my roses? - First of all, you need to determine the reason for pruning, and there are several good ones. Pruning away any sickly-looking or dead branches will keep the plant healthier. Pruning away spent blooms removes excess weight that puts stress on the plant. You can also encourage growth by pruning away the old growth.
Here's how you prune a rose: Get a good set of sharp pruners (I prefer bypass pruners over anvil pruners because the latter will crush the cane). Look for a leaf bud that faces away from the center of the plant and make a cut about 1/4" above that bud. Some gardeners will use nail polish to seal the cut in order to prevent can borers from invading the rose. If the whole plant is looking sickly, cut it back to about one-third, then fertilize and water. This should promote new growth and get you back on track with your rose.
2. Do roses prefer sun or shade? - Although there are some varieties of roses that will grow in shade, most roses like to get at least six solid hours of sunlight a day. Morning sun is especially helpful because the leaves will dry out at the beginning of the day, and that helps prevent disease on the rose
There are a few varieties of roses that will do well in partial shade. They include hybrid musks, some climbers and alba varieties of the old garden roses, and some modern English roses will tolerate shade. Check with your local nursery to see which roses do well in your area.
3. How often should I water my roses? - Roses like quite a bit of water but prefer infrequent deep watering over frequent light watering. What that means is that you should water them at least once a week (more often in the growing season), and you should make sure you water enough to equal 1" of rain every time you water. It's best to water in the morning so that the leaves have plenty of time to dry during the day, but if you can avoid getting the leaves wet, then you have a better shot of avoiding disease. I like to use soaker hoses you to turn them on and walk away for a while, allowing the roses to get all the water they need.
4. I have several rose plants, and one of them is covered with black spots. How do I get rid of it, and why is it only on that plant? - Black spot, a very common disease among roses, is a fungus that infects the leaves, making them turn yellow and eventually fall off. It's caused by a combination of warm weather and water staying on the leaves. It may be on only one of the plants because that one is in a position to get water splashed on it more, or it could be that your other roses are resistant to black spot and that one variety is not. There are several resistant varieties.
To get rid of it, cut away all the leaves that are infected and open up the plant a little by pruning away what we call cross canes, or canes in the middle. This opens up the airflow to the plant. To keep it from coming back, use watering methods that will not splash as much, such as a soaker or drip hose or just laying the hose on the ground. You can also buy chemical sprays to prevent black spot.
5. I bought a rose from the nursery, when it was not in bloom. Now that the blooms have come out, they are not fragrant. Did I do something wrong? - Since you bought it before there were blooms, you didn't have a chance to smell it and see whether it would be fragrant. Not all roses are fragrant, so you may have purchased a variety that while very pretty, will not be fragrant. There are many books and websites available to tell you which ones are fragrant, but in general, old garden roses are more fragrant than their modern hybrid cousins, though you can find a few hybrid teas that are fragrant. Here are some of the most popular:
Hybrid tea Double Delight with its red color; Mr. Lincoln, also dark red; and Fragrant Cloud with almost coral-colored petals. English rose Gertrude Jekyll, which is pink. Many of the damask roses and most of the David Austin varieties.
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