How to grow roses

Introduction:

Having a rose garden is a wonderful thing. You can cut fresh roses for your table daily. You have the pleasant aroma they give off, and you get to enjoy the fact that you are growing one of the most celebrated of flowers. So, how do you grow roses? Try the following directions.

Difficulty rating:
Moderately difficult

Steps:

Step:

Decide if you are going to grow roses by buying a plant or by propagation, which means growing a rose by using a cutting from an existing plant.

Step two:

Either buy the rose plant at the nursery, or if you choose to use propagation get some fresh cuttings from a friends' or family member's healthy rose plant.

Step three:

Choose a container to grow your roses in. A large flower pot, that has plenty of holes in the bottom is a good choice. No matter what kind of container you choose, just make sure that it has good drainage. You can plant in a bed if you want, but it works better and produces better results to start out in a container. Either way roses need good drainage at all times. They will die if their roots are standing in water.

Step four:

Add a layer of sand or small rocks to the bottom of the container in order to help with drainage. Then put in an inch or two of loose, organic material. After that put in enough quality soil (such as potting soil) to fill the container to a couple inches from the top.

Step five:

Have a healthy cutting of roses, and carefully snip off the bottom of the cutting, right below the lowest leaf. You will want to make this snip at an angle so that it can absorb water and nutrients easily.

Step six:

Stick the cut bottom into the container of potting soil, organic material, and rocks that you have prepared.

Step seven:

Place the container in a sunny spot and water it often, but do not over-water. Talk to your local nursery for the best watering for your area and plant type.

Step eight:

Wait. You have to wait for the plant to grow a good root system.

Step nine:

Once the root system is developed, and you can see the roots through the holes in the container, you will want to transplant your roses. Just be sure to plant your rose is in a spot where it will get at least six hours of full sunshine everyday.

Step ten:

Dig your hole and put rocks and sand in the bottom to help with drainage. Add fertilizer, and transplant.

Step eleven:

Water your transplanted rose often for the first month or so, then just as recommended by your local nursery.

Step twelve:

Prune your rose plant every spring once it is big enough, cut off dead leaves and branches, and any parasite plants that grow on it. Check for pests, too.

Tips and warnings:

1. Prune in the early spring.
2. When you prune cut the dead and damaged branches first.
3. When you prune cut all but five of the leftover healthy branches.
4. Be sure to sharpen your hand shears before pruning.
5. Mulch to keep your maintenance down.
6. The best mulches are organic ones.
7. Add soil to the base of your rose plants in the winter to provide extra heat for the roots in the winter.
8. Water lightly, but do so often.
9. Keep the ground clean and clear of dead leaves to keep pests from killing your roses.

Things you will need:

• Rose start or plant
• Pot
• Potting soil
• Sand
• Gravel
• Spade
• Pruning shears