Beginner: Getting roses off to a good start

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
allthingspretty Fuquay Varina, NC(Zone 7b) Mar 20, 2015

I'm new to the world of caring for roses. Two types were planted late spring/first week of June2014. I'm a little confused about how to get them really going or jump started now that spring is here again basically. I have watched way too many videos! I have pruned and cleaned out around the base of roses removing old mulch and fall leaves. I'm not sure what to do next. Do I add rose food such as Espoma Rose Tone now mixed with compost or just the Espoma. When I planted them, I mixed native dirt/black cow manure/mushroom compost. I just don't want to kill them by doing too much. Also, do you start spraying roses for blackspot in early spring before buds open? I purchased castille soap and neem oil.

I have 3 types of roses. Mary Rose(David Austin Rose), Light My Fire Floribundas and Denver Dream miniatures. I have coordinated colors to go in different gardens with other plants.

ETA: The Mary Rose was planted late August /early September. It had one bloom on it last year. It's an own root rose (just a baby but looks healthy and a little new growth). From what I have gathered, I really don't need to do anything to it as in fertilzing until the first blooms are dead headed...is that correct? I did prune it a teeny tiny bit.

Post #10040185
Quote
Terry Murfreesboro, TN(Zone 7a) Mar 21, 2015

There are a lot of strong opinions on how to care for roses, and I've killed more than my fair share of perfectly innocent bushes.

That said, I use two products to care for our 'Knockout' roses around our porch (they were here when we moved in, and I'm okay with them - I've got a lot of other plants to tend :-)

When I do a hard pruning (late winter), I sprinkle a scoop of Beaty's Mills Mix around the base of each plant.

Later in the spring I use Bayer's 3-in-1 drench around each rose to ward off blackspot and Japanese beetles.

Others will give you different (and possibly better) advice, but these two products seem to keep my bushes happy and blooming throughout the summer.

Post #10040424
Quote
davedigsdirt Yellville, AR(Zone 6b) Mar 22, 2015

Agree with Terry that you most definitely want to give them a good feeding in early spring - before blooming. I then feed again after the first blush of blooms deadhead. The choice of fertilizer used is yours. There are many good ones available. And a good supplement of quality compost never hurts. :)

Just in case you didn't know it, there is a good Roses forum here that is full of good info for you.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/roses/all/

Dave

Post #10041203
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener Threads

Go to all Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener threads
BACK TO TOP