roses - help?

[low_delta]

Okay, (you know who you are) I need assistance regarding my roses.

We moved into this house last September, and I've done nothing to the rose bushes. Didn't prune or cover them last fall, and haven't touched them yet this spring. They haven't started budding yet, but I'd guess that's a matter of days.

I think we've got five or six of them.

What do I do to them?

Comments

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

I don't know much, except that here in California they like to be pruned way down to nearly nothing in January - then they grow like bonkers in the spring! They also like getting fed, although I've never done that before but will learn, to try to make the most of the wonderful new soil and transplanting they got last August. They look healthier than I've seen them in years!

[rivendweller.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty good with roses. They need a lot of care, but it's worth it because they can be spectacular.

You should still prune them back a little. Not as severely as you would in Winter, but it still needs to be done. Roses don't like to be left "unpruned," and they need a lot of constant care. You need to check on them at least once a week, cutting off blooms that have wilted and looking for ways to help the branches grow out in a healthy, strong way. You'll get better at figuring out how to do this with practice.

If three of four buds appear on the end of a branch, pinch off three of them and let the biggest one bloom. Buy some systemic fertilizer that feeds them and kills the aphids at the same time (just follow the directions on the box). Keep them weeded and form the dirt around them like a bowl. They like slow drip watering, and don't let them dry out in the Summer.

That's my two cents :-)

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I've asked before about roses, because I had one at the old house, but I never did anything to it and forgot the advice.

Thanks!

[seriouspaul.livejournal.com]

Take pictures when they bloom man!

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Will do!

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

eh.. as a rose grower.. either cut them back a little to shape them like you want.. making sure you cut off the dead wood (the brown dry stuff is dead) or .. not. I left mine unpruned one year and they did fine. They are not nearly as picky as most people think they are. They DO need to be fed however, as you see the first leaves poke their little red selves out of the stem, sprinkle some rose food (I uses pellets) around them, under the bush, and let it go at that. Some people swear by a spray program, some people don't do non organic. Either way. If you want to spray, spray, if you want less chemicals spray them with milk in a spray bottle if you see black spots on your leaves, that then turn yellow. The enzymes in milk will kill the virus that is black spot.


Have fun with them.. and yeah, post pictures!! Do you have any ideas about colors or varieties? Do any of them have those little round metal tags stamped with names hanging around their grafts?

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I didn't see any tags, but I haven't looked at them closely yet. I don't remember what colors they were. I'm pretty sure at least one of them was the peach color, and I think some were red, but that's all very vague memory. I've got insecticide spray for the aphids. I guess I need rose food.

Here's what I've got so far. When the leaf buds first appear, prune them for shape or openness (and cut out the dead wood). Soon after that, fertilize.

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

yeeeeeeeeeeeap... that is about it. What people are talking about with the pinching of the buds and all is for those that are growing roses for competition. They want big fat perfect blossoms. Leaving the buds on the rose bush will result in smaller blooms, but if you aren't entering them in competitions, who cares right?

Do you have a problem with aphids on your roses? The only insect I have issues with are the shield bugs, that eat a circle around the tops of some of the buds, and it causes the bloom to either not open or open oddly. I do have a problem with black spot, worse in some years than others, and can control that with milk sprayed on the leaves.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I had trouble with aphids at the old house. I'll keep an eye out for the black spot.

[shoo.livejournal.com]

PULL THEM OUT! lol

I have no idea...I use to prune them back in fall or winter and feed them with systemic to prevent insect infestations...

There is something about pinching buds...I think you are suppose to pick one or two you want to grow and pinch the others off so they don't drain from the others....

Too much work for me...LOL

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think that's it.

I don't know how much work it's going to be for me. I might take some out if I want to put soemthing else there, but otherwise, I'll probably be sstuck with them.

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

ours are auto-pruned in winter by the moose......i don't mind the winter pruning as much as the summer pruning and selective munching of the blooms....

so, get a moose!........LOL

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I wonder if moose would keep the rabbits away. Probably not, huh?

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

nope...........ya need a lynx for that.....

[banana.livejournal.com]

Someone did a study where they had one rose bed pruned by an experienced gardener and another chopped to a similar level with one pass of a chainsaw. Both beds did equally well. I've been much happier about pruning ever since I read that (though I've never tried the chainsaw method).

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

That's good to know.

[blonnie.livejournal.com]

to prune you try and prevent the branches from growing to closely into one another in the middle. this helps them grow more full. you should really wait until you see a bud before you start pruning (that way you don't cut any off!) cut off all dead brances. after you see the bud, with the sharpest gardening clippers you can find (leaving no rough/stringy edges), clip at a 45 degree angle about 1/4 of an inch above the bud. the angle should be so that water would fall away from the bud rather than down to it.

i just pruned our new roses (that came w/the house) about a month ago and am seeing wonderful full/leaves all over :)

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Good stuff, thanks!

I haven't seen any buds on the branches yet, but I think there might be some new growth around their bases.