DIY Gardening Tips

submitted: Mar 23rd 2008 | by: Admin | Total views: 135 | Word Count: 539 | |

A beautiful rose garden is the ultimate dream of many gardeners. Roses have a long tradition of symbolism--love, hope passion, all of these are contained in the beauty of a perfect rose. These blooms are beloved by almost everyone simply because of the feelings and memories they evoke.

A satisfying rose garden is not impossibly difficult, but they aren't weeds after all. There is some specific care and growing techniques involved in the process. And if you don't have roses yet, you might be wonder where to start. Let's take a look at how to create a rose garden you will love.

Planning a Rose Garden

The first step in putting together a rose garden is deciding what type of roses you want. Roses come in hundreds of varieties, so it's not likely you'll be raising all of them. It's helpful if you can decide what style of garden you want. That will help guide your decisions about what types of roses you should choose to grow.

Do you want a formal rose garden, or something wilder and more natural. Formal rose gardens usually stick to one or two traditional colors (like red and/or white). Less formal gardens allow the freedom to plant various styles and colors. And the plantings will probably be more random as well.

Another decision is whether your roses should be scented or not. You may not have been aware that unscented roses exist, but modern hybrid roses have very little fragrance. If you're growing a rose garden to enjoy the fragrance, then you need to stick to roses that can provide it.

Another difference between roses is the size and arrangement of the plants. They range from bushes, shrubs and climbing vines to small trees. Include this size variation in your initial planning. If you plant a climbing rose without something for it to climb on, you're going to end up with roses creeping along the ground. If that's what you wanted, great. But if not, better to figure it out ahead of time rather than being forced to move and replant.

Caring for Your Rose Garden

Specific foods, fertilizers and soil mixes have been formulated to assist the modern rose gardener. These focused products are particularly helpful when you're just starting out. You don't have to worry about soil adjustments, vitamins or minerals. It's all been taken care of ahead of time. Do some research to find out how roses will fare in your local climate. You may need to stick with certain varieties that have a better chance of thriving in your garden.

Roses have specific light and water requirements. These special needs should be listed on the packaging. This information should help you figure out where to place the plants in your landscape. Don't forget to add mulch around the rose plants. This helps prevent the emergence of weeds and also helps retain moisture in the soil.

Once your roses start blooming, watch for blooms that have died off. Plucking those from the vine regularly stimulates enhanced blooming through the season. This process--called dead heading--will become second nature as you stroll through your garden enjoying the fruit of your labor.

Rose bushes also need regular pruning and trimming. Although it may seem harsh at the time, it encourages healthy growth over time.

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