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Roses
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Fuss-Free Roses
Growing these beauties is easier than you think. The romance of these flowers sets them apart. The scent from their glorious blossoms wafts through the air, creating a host of sweet memories. However, the picture many homeowners have of them isn't all that rosy. They recall roses as fussy plants that need constant spraying lest a fungus called black spot pillage their leaves. Fortunately, lots of roses-both heirlooms and newcomers-need little or no spraying to stay healthy and beautiful. These easy-care roses aren't just for formal gardens either. You can grow them on arbors, enjoy them in containers, or mass them in hedges and borders. Having an assortment of different types can mean a nearly year-round supply of cut blossoms to display in your home. Now is a great time to plant. 
One Dozen Red & Yellow Roses - JustFlowers.com You can always make someone's day with a vase full of fragrant red and yellow roses! Start Them off Right Depending on when and where you buy your roses, they may come bareroot or growing in containers. Bare-root roses, bought while dormant from local or mail-order nurseries, need immediate attention to keep their roots from drying out. Unpack them right after getting them home, and immerse the roots in a bucket of water. If you can't plant yet, heel in the roses by placing them upright on the ground and temporarily covering the roots with moist soil or mulch. Roses bought in containers can cost more, but they give you much more latitude. You can plant them right away or a month from now, as long as you keep them watered. They also give you fuller plants immediately. All roses bloom best in sunny locations. Plant them where they will receive at least five to six hours of direct light a day. They also like moist, well-drained soil amended with lots of organic matter. Composted pine bark, peat, and composted manure all work well. Apply a slow-release fertilizer (such as Osmocote Slow Release Vegetable & Bedding Plant Food 14-14-14, Vigoro Rose Plant Food 12-6-10, or cottonseed meal) every couple of months during the South's long growing season to keep your plants happy. The Right Spot Different types and growing habits of roses offer plenty of options when you're deciding where to plant them. Climbing roses trained on trellises can create breathtaking focal points in the garden. You can also let them crawl along walls or ascend and drape over arbors to achieve beautiful effects. Use them as simple, informal hedges or to provide bright blooms in your shrub or perennial flowerbeds. Smaller-growing shrub roses can even work well in containers. By selecting various types, you can find ones to fit into every area of your yard or garden. Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Feb 2007
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