It seems that most of the predominate rose gardening literature makes it appear that growing roses is a difficult and time consuming task. It can be, if you want it to be, but is does not have to be.

Imagine growing a lovely rose bush in your yard. In the middle of summer it is in full bloom with dozens of rose flowers. What a lovely site and smell. Cut a rose flower or two off and place them in a vase in your home. Soon your home will be filled with the aromatic sent of your roses.

You can obtain this dream. With the right information, some time, and effort you can cultivate a lovely rose bush in your flower garden.

While care of roses will require some research and effort on the part of the gardener, the steps involved in the process of rose care are not generally as difficult as it seems. The key is in seeking for good information to equip yourself about proper rose care before you bring home your rose sapling from the nursery.

The basics of watering a rose bush

Roses do not put up with over watering neither do they tolerate overly dry soil conditions. How much water is the right amount of water for a rose bush?

How dry is too dry? A simple test is to gently dig with your finger into to soil near to the rose bush. If the first inch or two is dry and then you reach moist soil, the rose bush has enough water. If the soil is dryer any further than that, the soil is getting too dry and needs to be watered before the rose bush begins to get stressed.

How to water the rose bush? The simplest method is with a garden hose. However, caution must be advised. Do not use a hard stream of water when watering the rose bush as this will led to soil erosion and will compact the soil around the base of the plant. A better way to water is to use a sprinkler. When watering, water thoroughly enough to soak the top two inches without causing excessive runoff.

Also, keep in mind when watering your roses that the foliage of these plants should not remain wet. This suggests that when caring for your roses, watering should take place in the morning or early afternoon hours, so that your plant has time to dry sufficiently before nightfall. A plant that has wet foliage too often will become vulnerable to diseases like black spot. Another method of watering that works well in the care of your roses is a drip irrigation system. Mulching is a good way to keep the root area moist around the rose bush.

Fertilizing Your Roses

Roses like any other plant need to be feed on a regular basis to insure a healthy, thriving, flowering plant. A significant part of care for roses is selecting and using the right fertilizer. There are many different fertilizers available at the local gardening supply store. Which fertilizer should you use for your roses?

Fertilizers can be broken down into two distinct types organic and inorganic. Both types can be used on your roses. When selecting an inorganic fertilizer, select one that contains a high amount of phosphorous. Stay away from the inorganic weed and feed fertilizer as it contains herbicides that are detrimental to your rose bush. There are a variety of organic fertilizers that you can use on your rose bush such as manure, fish fertilizer, bone meal or blood meal.

Roses also require lime in the soil. Check the soil's composition to determine if it requires a lime supplement. If so, add a lime supplement to the soil once a year.

Apply the fertilizer after the danger of frost has past. Then reapply the fertilizer every six weeks during the blooming season.

Cultivating a lovely rose bush is not as mysterious as it seems. With some basic knowledge and effort you to can turn your rose bush into a pride a joy for many years to come.