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Feeding RosesMost roses need regular applications of plant food to reach their full size and produce abundant flowers. Roses prefer a slow-release plant food that is high in phosphorus. For ever-blooming roses, feed regularly with a water-soluble plant food such as Water Soluble Rose Plant Food. Not only will regular feedings provide better blooms, but a healthy, well-fed plant is also better able to resist attacks of pests and diseases and to survive severe winter cold. |
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How can I keep fresh-gathered roses in my home alive the longest?When you're gathering roses from your own garden, take along a container of water and plunge the stems into the water immediately after cutting from the rose bush. It also helps to choose rose buds that are almost ready to open, or have just begun to open, and to gather your rose buds in the early morning. |
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How do I prepare my roses for the winter?You can begin by tying the longest canes together so they won't whip around in the wind and become damaged. When the nights become regularly frosty, mound several spadefuls of soil over the base of the plant, extending the soil up at least a foot above the graft (bud union). Then, when the ground is thoroughly frozen, cover the mound with a thick layer of mulch, such as straw, leaves or compost. When the ground begins to thaw in the spring, slowly begin to remove the mulch and mound of soil. Just as the buds begin to swell, you can prune any winter-damaged canes, and then prune to shape your rose bush so it will produce new flowering wood. |
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How do you start roses from plant stems?Stems from cut rose blooms are very unlikely to root successfully. However, I'll give you a simple, effective way to root roses in case you have access to some bushes you wish to propagate. |
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How I should maintain my rose tree?A tree rose is a bush rose that's been budded onto a 2-3 foot-high understock stem. They're sometimes called standards. Caring for your tree rose is similar to the care of all roses. Make sure it gets sunshine all day long, stake the trunk to help support it, and cut the spent blooms off to encourage additional blossoms. |
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Mulching for RosesSpreading a protective covering on top of the soil has many advantages for the rose gardener. In addition to giving a neat, attractive appearance to rose beds, it slows the evaporation of moisture from the soil and prevents the formation of a hard crust. Left in place all year, it insulates the soil, preventing rapid temperature changes in the soil during the winter as well as the summer. |
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Plant bare root rosesPlant bare-root roses in spring and early fall so that their roots can establish before the plant is exposed to hot summer sun. Bare-root roses should be kept cool and moist until they are planted. You can do this by digging a sloped trench in a shady spot and laying the roots of the roses at the bottom of the trench. Cover loosely with soil. Before actually planting, soak roots in a pail of water for a day (soak them in a vitamin B-1 solution for great results), up until the time you are ready to plant them. |
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Planting RosesThe first step in planting roses is picking the proper spot for them to thrive. Roses perform best when they receive full sunshine all day, or at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, from spring through fall. Morning sun is essential; partial afternoon shade is acceptable. |
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Pruning RosesPruning is critical to the continued blooming and thriving of your roses. However, different types require different pruning practices. A rose left unpruned can grow into a mass of tangled brambles that produce small or inferior blooms. Proper pruning removes unproductive or damaged wood and leaves a few good canes as the foundation for a healthy bush that will produce well-formed flowers. |
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Pruning Various Types of RosesFirst remove any deadwood down to the nearest healthy, dormant bud eye. Make the cut at least 1 inch below the dead area. If no live buds remain, remove the entire branch or cane to the bud union. Examine the plant carefully for canker and other diseases. |
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