How to Grow Healthy Roses 2/2

Selecting the right location and proper planting is not where rose care ends. Beautiful, healthy roses with abundant blooms are the result of year-round work. In spring comes the time for the main pruning of roses, removing frozen shoots. In summer, overly vigorous shoots are shortened, nutrients are supplied, and after hot days, thorough watering is needed. In autumn, roses are prepared for winter, tissues are allowed to mature, soil is mounded up, and branches or straw are laid over more sensitive varieties. However, these are only the most basic tasks that must be performed when growing roses. Roses should be cared for with great love, for which they reward growers with magnificent blooms - the blooms of the queen of flowers. Start growing roses yourself. Your work will go more smoothly when you use quality tools and equipment. Just like rose plants, you'll find them in our range.

Perform the Main Pruning in Spring

The main pruning of roses is fundamentally done in spring, because at this time it's completely clear whether winter has damaged the roses or not. After a harsh winter, the ends of shoots are often frozen, but this doesn't matter at all. It's also one of the reasons why significant shortening should wait until spring - shoots freeze from the tips. The longer the shoot is, the smaller the risk that the entire shoot, or even the entire rose, will freeze. Before pruning, remove accumulated soil from the roses and any other covers (branches). Winter covering should be removed only after there's no threat of stronger frosts. Since the plants were shaded and aren't used to too much light, uncovering should be done on a semi-bright to cloudy day when the intensity of sunlight isn't so high. Spring pruning of roses should be completed before the buds begin to swell. Timely pruning can accelerate flowering. The basis of spring pruning is removing old, frozen, and dead parts of roses. Pruning is always done down to healthy wood. Weak rose bushes are supported by cutting back all shoots, with the weakest ones possibly shortened to the first bud. For vigorous plants, it's necessary to maintain the main framework of the rose, while shoots that grow inward and unnecessarily thicken the rose should be removed. During pruning, the current condition of the given rose must be considered - weak plants will support fewer shoots than healthy and strong roses. When pruning roses, equip yourself with proper gloves and quality rose pruning shears. Small Fiskars rose pruning shears, which hold the stem after cutting, will certainly come in handy. You can thus cut with just one hand without problems, and the cut shoot won't scratch your hands. Long lifespan and high durability are ensured by a quality blade made from Swedish stainless steel. These shears will cut shoots up to a maximum thickness of 1 cm.

Shorten Vigorously Growing Shoots in Summer

Another pruning of roses is carried out during summer. Its main task is to shorten vigorously growing shoots and encourage the formation of new flowers. Summer pruning also includes removing faded flowers, which should be done before the petals completely fall off. The flower of large-flowered roses is cut together with part of the stem bearing incomplete leaves, approximately 5-8 mm above the next healthy bud. By cutting the flower correctly, you can achieve blooming of a new one in a very short time. In late summer, shoots should be left as long as possible so they can ripen well before winter.

Healthy Roses Need Sufficient Nutrients and Water

For healthy growth and abundant flowering, roses require an adequate supply of nutrients. The basis is nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Calcium, iron, magnesium and sulphur are essential for good growth. Roses absorb these trace elements in the form of simple compounds dissolved in water. Nutrient deficiency can lead to growth disorders and poor flower development. The simplest way to ensure sufficient nutrients needed for healthy rose growth is to use a combined fertiliser designed specifically for roses. We have several types of rose fertilisers available in our range, just choose one. For feeding roses, you can also use the mineral fertiliser Cererit, which contains a balanced combination of necessary nutrients. Cererit is ideal for fertilising roses as early as possible in spring, after pruning. During the period of growth and flower development, it is advisable to fertilise roses regularly at intervals depending on the type of fertiliser used. Roses absorb nutrients better after rain. The last autumn fertilisation should contain an increased amount of potassium to support tissue ripening. This fertilisation should be carried out only after mounding the roses.

Principles for fertilising roses:

• When fertilising, take into account the soil condition (fertilised / unfertilised, permeable / impermeable).
• The more rainfall, the more nutrients roses need.
• Roses also benefit from foliar feeding.
• Fertilise sensibly.
• Reduce fertilisation in autumn.

Watering goes hand in hand with fertilising. Roses generally require large amounts of water, but during intensive growth the need for water and nutrients is greatest. Without sufficient water and nutrients, roses could not produce strong shoots and set flowers. Roses prefer generous watering that penetrates down to the roots at greater depth. The interval between individual waterings for normal soils is approximately 10-14 days. However, the specific water requirement depends on the current weather and soil drying capacity. Frequent watering with small amounts of water has no benefit for roses, as the necessary moisture does not reach the deeper roots. Watering is better done with a watering can.

Diseases and Pests on Roses

Even the "queens of flowers" are occasionally attacked by various diseases and pests. Vigorously growing roses are more resistant to attacks by various pests and diseases, so don't neglect regular watering and fertilising. Fungal diseases can be prevented by applying protective sprays, regular weeding of beds and removing fallen or damaged leaves. Fungal diseases threaten plants planted too close together with insufficient air circulation. The most common pest appearing on roses are aphids. Their elimination is a long-term battle, because after exterminating one batch of aphids, new aphids appear very quickly.

Winter's Coming with Frost, How to Hide Your Rose Host...

Winter is the most critical period of the year for roses, but if you prepare them well, there's nothing to fear. Healthy roses overwinter better than diseased and weak roses, so it's essential to give roses everything necessary for healthy development. Another important factor for successful overwintering is well-ripened shoots. In autumn, roses should not be over-fertilised with nitrogen, over-watered or hoed. Flowers should be cut as high as possible so that sufficiently long shoots remain on the plant. Before the arrival of stronger frosts, roses must be covered, ideally by mounding up the surrounding soil. Covered roses must be stripped of leaves so they don't rot during winter. Branches of coniferous trees can be used as additional protection against frost and snow. The most important thing when overwintering is to protect the roots of roses from freezing!!!