Long-Lasting Arrangements
The rose is far and away America's favorite flower. We spend more money and time on the cultivation of this particular plant than most others combined. There are those who enjoy their roses on the bush and those who would bring them into their homes as cut flowers. The following information is for the latter category of gardeners. If you like to display your roses, here are some tips for getting the most from your efforts. When to Cut Roses should be cut early in the morning before the dew has dried from the leaves. In the dry summer months, that means getting up before the chickens. By cutting early in the day, the flowers are full of moisture after having had all night to pull water up from the roots. If you cut in the afternoon, the flowers will have lost most of their moisture through transpiration. If you want your cut roses to last a long time, cut them early in the day.  continue   Keeping Beautiful Roses Disease-Free Roses are a favorite in so many gardens. But those gorgeous flowers are sometimes accompanied by various rose diseases and pests. Is there an alternative to regular pesticide applications to keep these beauties producing the blossoms we so covet? It is possible, but it will take a little more attention to monitoring and prevention than to just fixing a problem once it has engulfed the plant. Resistant Varieties The first practice of a good rose grower should be to grow disease-resistant roses. Visit public rose gardens, botanic gardens, or your local nursery who sells AARS winning roses. Our winners are proven to start you on your way to a successful garden.  continue                                                 Quick Tips Mulch, Mulch, Mulch Your Roses! Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of fresh mulch in early spring around all your roses. The mulch will help cover any overwintering spores and prevent them from splashing on the leaves. Additionally, mulch is a great way to keep the soil cool. Besides, it looks great! Fertilize Roses If you are growing repeat bloomers, such as hybrid teas and grandifloras, fertilize them in spring and again lightly when blooming. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers as they make lots of succulent leaves and few blossoms. Choose a rose formula with higher phosphorus. Remember that organic fertilizers help improve the soil, too.  Get more Tips & Resources
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