How to Make Roses Grow

Sappho, the Greek poet of the sixth century B.C., was so charmed by the rose that she named it the 'Queen of Flowers' in her poem, "Ode to the Rose."
Roses can stand out in a garden; most varieties are fragrant and offer big, beautiful blooms from June until the first frost. During those warmer months, roses can bring color, life and birds to your garden.
Once a rose has been planted and established, its growing needs should not be neglected. In fact, there are several steps a gardener can take to make her roses grow.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Compost
• Soil test kit
• Epsom salt
• Fertilizer

1. Provide a yearly application of compost after the danger of frost has passed. Two or three shovels full of compost should be applied to the base of the plant.

2. Test the soil. If soil pH is high, and soil magnesium is low, add 1 tbsp. of Epsom salt per plant. Epsom salt is water soluble, safe and effective in promoting rose growth.

3. Fertilize every two to three weeks. Choose a fertilizer rich in phosphorus. Big, beautiful rose blooms are often the result of phosphorus-heavy fertilizers.

4. Remove all dead and diseased growth. Prune away dead rose heads and leaves to encourage healthy, new growth.

5. Water roses regularly. Roses growing in sandy soil should be watered every five days. Roses growing in clay soil should be watered every other week.

Tips & Warnings

• Non-recurrent rose varieties do not usually bloom the first season following planting. Use organic mulch to enrich soil and control weeds.
• Do not water the leaves of roses. Water at the base of the plant. Wet leaves can promote disease. Test soil chemistry or have your local agricultural service test it before applying chemicals. Imbalances in soil chemistry can lead to disease.

Resources

• The Gardeners Network: Rose Care
• Epsom Salt
• Soil Test Kit
• Roses Growing Guide