It has been said that a rose is the queen of the garden. Wherever one looks, in mid spring, rose bushes are in full bloom. With proper care, roses are fairly easy to grow. Roses do well in beds, containers, along pathways and as climbers, as they can be trained, over pergolas, up pillars, or even as hedges. Don’t be put off by bad weather, or confined spaces, you can still grow roses in pots.

The rose of today, is hardier than it’s earlier predecessors. They have become more disease resistant. Many of the newer varieties, like Perfume Passion, Garden Queen, L’Aimant and Memoire have lovely strong fragrances.

Some of the main varieties are:
* Floribunda – These are bushy, with clusters of blooms.
* Miniature -  These are either upright, or spreading plants, with perfect blooms, which are smaller than usual, hence the name.
* Hybrid Tea – These are tall plants, which grow upright. They have perfectly shaped blooms.
* Standard – Blooms of floribunda, or hybrid tea, atop strong stalks.
* Climbing – These roses can range from miniatures to the bigger varieties. For smaller spaces, the Midinette is best.
* Groundcover – These roses grow low on the ground and are either prostrate or mounded. They grow freely.

Special South African varieties:
* South Africa – Gold flowers
* Karoo – Pinky red flowers
* Walter Sisulu – Deep red flowers
* Ubuntu Panarosa – Light yellow flowers
* Desmond Tutu – Deep red flowers
* Amarula Profusion – Apricot flowers
* Rooibos Rose – Bright red flowers
* Albertina Sisulu – Cream flowers
* Helpkids – Assorted colours
These roses grow well in hot, dry conditions.

When growing roses in containers, make sure that the pot is deep enough and wide enough. Water roses well, each day in summer and fertilize every fortnight, with only half the recommended dosage. Potted roses will need to be re-potted after 2 years. Always ensure there is enough air circulation and do not position the pots against a hot wall.

Roses in the garden should be watered three times a week in summer and once a week in winter. It is important to water deeply, as the roots need nutrition and water from the soil.

Use a good fertilizer once a month during the growing period. This fertilizer should contain nitrogen for the leaves and stems, phosphoros for the roots and flowers, as well as potassium for the conditioning of the plant.

If it is a hot day, rather water the roses in the evening, or early morning. A mist irrigation system is gentler and uses less water, than conventional garden sprinklers. The bush roses need more water, than the erect single plants. Use mulch around the base of the roses. This helps to keep the roots cool. It also saves on water and prevents weeds from growing in that localized area. This can consist of leaves, grass clippings, pine needles, pith, bark chips, and crushed sticks.

Don’t forget to spray the roses to combat pests and diseases. Spray fortnightly in summer. If you prefer to use natural ingredients, try this formula.

Mix 1 cup garlic and onion leftovers with half a cup of chopped chilli. Add 2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid. Add boiling water, stir well, allow to cool and strain.

When planting a rose, choose a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sun a day. Dig a hole 1 foot deep and put the topsoil aside. Loosen the subsoil and mix in compost, bonemeal, or superphosphate. Make a neat hole and carefully cut the plastic bag from the soil containing the rose. Place in the hole, at the right height and fill in the topsoil. Compact and water well.

A wonderful book on roses is Rose Secrets Revealed by Bambi J Coker Get this comprehensive Guide To Roses. All you ever wanted to know about everyone’s favourite flower. Get it here:
http://dersalsites.com/rsec/

Sally Robson is an up and coming, South African internet marketer, with a vision of empowering all fellow South Africans and non U.S folk, to have equal opportunity and success on the internet. She and her husband Derek, have started a string of sites, resources, courses and articles, as part of Dersalsites. She also has a passion for gardening.

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