In this series of articles, I will show you how to have a healthy, beautiful rose garden. There is no great mystery to growing gorgeous roses.

Roses have been the mainstay of gardens for centuries. Ranging in color from pure white to crimson black, they enchant us with their fragrance and beauty. And never before has there been such an array of choices for the home garden.
The House of Meillands Romantica Series, David Austins English roses, grandifloras and floribundas have come on the scene, tempting us with yet one more bush! All these roses share one thing in common: they need care.

In this series of articles, I will show you how to have a healthy, beautiful rose garden. There is no great mystery to growing gorgeous roses. Understanding the complex and delicate interactions between sun, soil, insects and feeding requirements, will help you gain better control of your entire garden. So grab your favorite drink, pull up a chair and begin your journey towards a lifelong love affair with roses.

We’ll begin with the most basic element, and the most important: your soil. Without good soil, everything else is a wasted effort. How do you know if you have good soil? Pick up a handful and squeeze it lightly. It should compact, yet when released, crumble easily. Clay soils are heavy and stay compacted when released. They are often nutrient rich, but due to the heavy nature of this type of soil, it prevents roots from growing properly and doesn’t drain well, causing root rots and fungi. Sandy soils, on the other hand, don’t compact readily when held and simply fall apart. The problem with this soil, is water drains too quickly and leads to drying out of the entire root system.

Next, you need to find out what your soil pH is. The ideal pH range is around 6.6. Buy a home soil testing kit. They run as little as $19.95, and can save you hours of wasted effort. Since roses thrive best in a slightly acid environment, if your soil is alkaline, the addition of garden sulfur to your beds will adjust this nicely.

An ideal soil mixture for roses consists of rich organic compost, manure, bone meal, cottonseed or bloodmeal and garden sulfur, mixed well. This should be dug or tilled in at least a week before planting. Go down deep, at least 18 inches and water in well. This time allows for the ammonias and other burning elements in the amendments to break down a bit, creating a much healthier environment for the new bushes. There has been a bit of controversy over the use of steer manures. This is due to the fact unsterilized manure may contain e coli bacteria. Many seasoned rosarians are now recommending the use of horse manure, citing it´s cleaner breakdown. My personal opinion, is if you buy a sterile manure and allow 1-2 weeks before planting, steer manure is more than adequate. Make certain that all debris is cleared from the new beds prior to planting. Old leaves and other plant materials often harbor insects and diseases that can harm new roses.

Starting out right, with well amended, clean planting beds will help you get maximum enjoyment from your new roses.