Rose Gardening

Rose gardening has been around for centuries.

No other flower has been as romanticized throughout history as much as the rose. Even today more than 1.2 billion cut roses are purchased in the Untied States every year and about 189 million of those are red roses purchased by men on Valentines Day.

Roses were known to the ancient Greeks as "the perfume of the gods." There is no record of Roses in Egypt at the tie of the Pharaohs, but in the later years quantities of Roses were shipped from Egypt and Macedonia for the great Roman festivals. This profitable commerce was lost, however, when Roman gardeners grew Roses in hothouses for winter flowers.

The Roman invader of northern Europe and England brought to those lands the Roses of the Mediterranean region.

Evidently, Rose water and fresh or dried Rose petals were used by the early races of Asia as well as by the Greeks and the Romans.

The essential oil contained in Roses is reputed to have been discovered accidently in ancient Persia. Damask, gallica, alba, and rugosa Roses are now the chief sources for the extract.

It takes about three thousand pounds of petals to produce one pound of Rose oil.

Today, field grown roses, grown by the average backyard gardener, can be quiet profitable in local markets as average consumers care more about the beauty of the flower rather than the length of the stem (this is how florist price roses.)

Types of Roses

The Hybrid Teas, which are many gardeners favorite, are ever-blooming Roses which originated from a combination of Tea and Hybrid Perpetuals in 1867.

Today, the Knock-out Rose is becoming one of the most popular varieties since they take little care and new rose varieties are becoming available every year that are pest and disease resistant.

Planting Roses

You may purchase roses in either containers or bare root from local nurseries.

Rose Gardening Tips

• Plant in the fall or in very early spring in prepared beds so roots may become established before the hot weather.
• Plant live container-grown roses as soon as possible after purchasing. (See planting bare root roses below)
• Roses are tolerant of many soil conditions, but they do best in well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly acid soil. They like to stay moist, but not wet.
• Most nurseries prune before shipping, but new plant canes may need to be cut back to about six inches and climber to 18 inches.
• Experienced rosarians and hobbyists often prefer a natural rose food, but a general garden fertilizer with a formula of 5-10-5 usually works also.
  
  Apply five pounds of fertilizer per 100 square feet when preparing the soil. Top dress monthly. Organic fertilizers are best because they provide more plant nutrients and they will not burn plants.

• Plant as soon as possible. Most nurseries pack dormant plants so well that they may stay in the box for several days. Just be sure the roots are moist.
• Cut back canes of bedding roses to about six inches and climbers to 18 inches if the nursery hasn't already done this.
• Broken, dried or decayed roots should be cut off. Fresh cuts soon heal and send out new rootlets. Retain all the long roots.
• While planting, keep roots moist under wet hay or burlap at all times. If uncovered for more than a very few minutes, the plant may not grow. This is the chief reason for the failure of many roses and the real cause of many complaints that the plants are inferior.
• Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots allowing enough room for roots to spread as they grow. Place the plant in the hole so that the bud union (the swollen area between the root and canes) is about 2 inches below the soil line in warmer Zones. For Zones 2 to 4 you will need to go 4 to 6 inches deep.
• Spread the roots out and sift in soil carefully working it around the roots. You don't want any open spaces around the roots. Continue at add soil, adding peat moss and manure, and tamp firmly until the hole is three quarters full. Then water thoroughly. When the water has soaked away, finish filling the hole without tramping.
• Finish filling the hole without tramping. Mound up soil around the plant five to sic inches to prevent the tops from drying out until the roots can supply sufficient sap.
• In about a week or so, when leaf buds begin to grow, the soil can be leveled off. When the planting is done in autumn, however, the mound of soil should be allowed to remain as a winter protections

Rose gardening has become so much easier with the introduction of new varsities. Growing roses in containers on your patio or deck is another great way to participate in rose gardening if you have limited space.

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I found a great website all about roses that you might like to take a look at. You will see tons of great pictures and get expert advice at www.rose-works.com