Taking proper care of roses can be time consuming, but the results make up for it. Unfortunately, roses can be difficult to manage and keep healthy; however, all good things require high maintenance.
There are many small things that have to be done to keep your roses looking their best, but all those small things add up to a lot of time. Here are some great tips for the regular upkeep of your roses.
- Prune your roses in the early spring or at least once the others start budding because the buds will eventually become new branches later.
- Cut the dead and damaged branches first. Next, cut all but five of the leftover healthy branches. They should be about as thick as a pencil.
- Cut the bushes back about one third or one half, depending on how tall you want them. Cut above the outward facing buds, because this will help the bud to grow upward. This makes the center of the bud open up for better air circulation and shape.
- Always sharpen your hand shears before pruning, and prune the climbing roses with caution. The branches have a tendency to overlap, and you wouldn’t want to prune the wrong branches.
- Mulching is necessary because it helps to keep your maintenance down a bit. Mulching requires your roses to need a lot less watering, weeding and helps prevent diseases. The best mulches are organic ones like wood chips, pine needles, and grass clippings.
- Protect your roses during the winter months by adding a few extra inches of soil to the base of your roses. This should provide the extra needed heat in the winter.
- Avoid the white plastic cones when doing your winter protection because they trap too much heat during the winter thaw.
- Water your roses lightly. Concentrate on watering the roots and avoid watering the foliage because it will cause fungal diseases.
- Keep the area around your roses clear to provide enough circulation.
