A rose garden in full bloom is nothing short of breathtaking. The sweet aroma and ribbon of color captivates you with every step and transports you to a serene and peaceful oasis. How do you deliver that feeling to your back yard? Although it is beleived by many that roses rarely flourish under less than ideal conditions, it is a fact and more than possible to start your own rose garden in a less favorable environement by following a few simple guidelines.
The firt step in creating your dream rose garden is to choose a variety that will withstand your local climate. You can either buy them from your local nursery or you can grow them by propagation. The propagation method is fairly easy. All that you require is a snippet of someone elses healthy rose plant, potting them and transferring them to the garden when they are mature. If you choose the latter, make sure to use a big pot with lots of drainage. This can be acheived by adding plenty of rocks or sand to the bottom of your pot. Roses hate getting their feet wet. A note of caution; Never buy your roses through mail order unless the company can guarantee the roses will thrive in your zone.
As soon as the ground can be worked and the threat of frost has passed, it's time to look for the perfect spot for your new friends to grow and prosper. Ideally the location should receive a solid 6 hours of sunlight a day. Roses need lots of room to expand their roots and grow strong. Digg a hole at least twice the size of the root ball and mix in some compost or humus.
When planting your rose bushes, try not to disturb the root ball while transfering it to the ground. If the roses are bare rooted then allow a foot on all sides for proper growth. Loosely pack the hole with a mixture of compost and manure. This will allow the plants to take in the proper nutrients right from the start. All that's left to do now is apply your choice of fertilizer with water. Make sure to water on a regular basis and fertilize every 6 weeks.
By following these simple steps you are sure to enjoy the fruits of your labor, the aromatic sensations and the bountiful colors year after year. Enjoy!
