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Step 1 -- Selecting

• Always use at least 1-1.5 grade roses.

• Make sure the color of the stems is good and the rose is alive.

• Types of roses.

  • Hybrid tea rose

    • Most popular

    • Known for their large flowers (3-5.5 inches) and many petal blossoms which are borne singly or in small clusters on long straight stems, and bloom for long periods of time.

    • 3-5 inches in height

    • Typically not as hardy and require more maintenance as they tend to be more susceptible to disease, insects, and winter dieback.  However, newer cultivars are much more resistant to black spot and powdery mildew than some of the older varieties.

  • Florabunda rose

    • A cross between a polyantha rose and a hybrid tea rose.

    • 2-3 inches in height.

    • Flowers are 2.5-3.5 inches wide and are borne in large, many flower clusters.

    • Generally quite hardy.

  • Grandiflora rose

    • A cross between hybrid tea rose and florabundas.

    • Shrubby rose.

    • 6-8 inches in height.

    • Flowers are large tea size blooms borne in large clusters.

  • Climbing rose

    • Some bear clusters of small flowers while others have blooms like tea roses.

    • Hardiness varies with variety.

    • Climbers have to be tied to whatever you want them to climb on, as they do not attach themselves.

  • Hardy shrub rose

    • This is a catchall class for many of the newer verities.  Often they are hybrids between old world roses and newer varieties.  They tend to be excellent, low maintenance shrubs resistant to insect and disease problems.

    • Typically very hardy on their own root stock.

    • Height and flower size varies with variety.

    • Length of bloom time is excellent on some varieties.

  • Miniatures

    • Excellent for edging and borders.

    • 1-2 inches in height.

Step 2 -- Planting

• Location is important.  Roses must have at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.

• Prepare your soil before you plant.

  • Add organic material, such as compost or peat moss.

  • Double dig or roto till the area.

• Make sure your soil is well drained.

• Plant the crown at ground level, or 1-2 inches below the soil level.

• Root stimulator at least 3 times a week, 2 weeks apart.

• Leave paper pot on.

  • Cut Vs in the pot.

  • Cut off the rim of the pot.

  • Do not disturb the roots.

  • Do not let soil fall away from the roots.

Step 3 -- Feeding

• Feed from mid-April through August 30.

• Liquid feed every 2 weeks.

• Granular fertilize with systemic insecticide/fungicide every month.

Step 4 -- Watering

• Sprinklers are not good for roses.  They can cause fungus.  Soakers hoses are better, but drip irrigation is the best.

Step 5 -- Mulching

• Conserves moisture.

• Restricts weed growth.

• Reduces soil temperature fluctuations.

• Helps prevent fungal spores from spattering when the plant is watered.

• Mulch heavily in September for winter protection.  Remove the heavy mulch (6-8 inches) in late April.

Step 6 -- Disease and Insect Control

• Black spot will kill roses.

• Powdery mildew will not kill roses, but makes them look bad.

• To prevent fungus.

  • Spray a mixture of rose spray and benomyl one time.  The next time spray a mixture of rose spray and a broad spectrum fungicide.

• Insects.

  • Most insects are controlled by systemic insecticide soaps.

Step 7 -- Pruning

• Always cut to live wood.

• The shorter you prune, the larger the flowers will be.

• Always cut to outside growing buds.

• Deadhead, unless you want rose hips to develop in the fall.

• Prune all roses, except climbers in April.  Climbers are pruned after the first blooms appear.

Step 8 -- Winter Protection

• Winter kills more roses than anything.  They dry out from the sun and cold dry air.

• Water whenever they are dry.  At least once a month when over 40 degrees.

• Mulch and cover in September and October.

  • Rose collars, straw or cedar bark, or leaf mulch can be used.  Mulch 6-8 inches deep.