A Basic Lesson on Growing Roses

red roses

 There are many things to consider when making your selection on which type of
rose to grow, some of them are: hardiness, soil requirements, temperature requirements, structure, how long it blooms, what type of blooms it produces, the color of blooms it will produce, and how or where in your garden will it fit.

Once you have found  the right rose or roses for you, it is time to begin. When and how deep your plant will depend on your selection and you should be provided with this when you purchase the seeds or started plant.

From the seeds to started plants, prepping the soil is key.

Healthy roses need to be in soil that has the right pH, or amount of acidity. Wherever you bought your plants should also carry test kits or meters for helping you to determine the soil's pH.

Ideally for roses, you want a pH level of 6.0 to 6.9, with some of the best results around 6.5. 

Talking with your local nursery or gardening center can prove helpful in not only finding all the resources you need to adjust the pH but also in learning about organic methods for how to do so.

Not only do you need the proper pH but composition and location are important as well. Roses love loamy soil, which is roughly a mixture of one-third clay, one-third coarse sand, and one-third decomposed organic matter. This mixture helps maintain nutrients and water balance, as rose roots need to be damp, but not too wet or too dry. They also need six hours of sunlight a day, so be sure that your location gets enough lighting and that they won't be cast into shade most of the time by surrounding plants and structures.

Watering and feeding your roses

The ideal time to water them is early in the day and close to the ground to help the

roots grow deeper.  A simple way to check the moisture level: stick a finger in the soil, if it comes out dry you are not watering enough if it comes out covered in mud you are watering too much.

red roses

The leaves are also a good indicator of watering problems; Yellow and dry, too little, yellow and soft means too much water.  It can take around four to five gallons of water a week to maintain roses. Outside of normal watering, the whole bush should be sprayed off weekly to help get rid of debris and some types of insects.

Roses require a lot of nutrients to keep up their beautiful appearance. When it comes to feeding, you can get a lot of blooms using commercial feeds that require little time and effort. Some rose enthusiasts insist that to get the best blooms you need to spend  a lot of time adjusting the feed mixtures. Whichever method you choose, know that basic care and maintenance are always required to keep the plant healthy.

Beyond the basics of watering and feeding

Roses, like most bushes, need to be pruned to kept at its best. Trimming away sickly and damaged branches can help the overall health of the plant. When the best time to prune is dependent on the species and your location. It can also take a lot of time and practice before you get really good at pruning.

One good way to get into rose gardening and to get a lot of helpful tips is to reach out to other gardeners online and in your community.

Growing Your Dream Garden: Caring for Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea flower

A gorgeous colorful and flowering plant, a bougainvillea can add a lot of bright color to your garden, while only taking minimal space.
 As an exceptionally diverse plant, you can grow your bougainvillea in a multitude of different ways, from a vine on a wall, to a trellis or topiary to a tree or bush. 
Bougainvillea are also known for being hardy and adaptable plants, perfect for a home garden.

With just a little knowledge, you can have your very own bougainvillea growing in no time.

Planting

The first step in planting your new bougainvillea is to take into consideration the climate you live in. If you live in an area that will have temperatures fall into the freezing range during the winter (32° to 40°F or lower), your best bet is to plant your bougainvillea in a pot and bring it indoors for the winter.

You can also protect your outside bougainvillea with frost clothes and other frost protectants, though if you have an especially cold winter, this may not do much to help your plant. If you end up planting in a container, you must make sure it has proper drainage, as the one thing a bougainvillea can’t tolerate is being left in standing water.

Bougainvillea

 Once you have determined if your bougainvillea will be in the ground or in a container, the next step is to decide how you want your plant to grow. As mentioned above, you can grow a bougainvillea into nearly any configuration you wish, simply train the vine on to anything you wish it to climb or prune the vine into more of a tree shape to make a tree. The possibilities are endless!

Light

As a native tropical plant, be sure your bougainvillea will be in an area where it will receive full sun.

Fertilizer

With so many flowers, a bougainvillea needs a lot of energy to support all of its blooms. Because of this, bougainvillea plants need to be fed every month during the growing season.
 The two most critical nutrients are nitrogen and phosphate, though too much of these can cause more green growth than flowering.
 If possible, having a small percentage of iron in the fertilizer can help promote vibrant flower colors.

Repotting

Unlike most plants, a bougainvillea enjoys a snug, root bound fit in its pot. Don’t be too overeager to repot your bougainvillea; most plants only need to be repotted every 2 or 3 years. 
You should only repot if the roots have almost totally replaced the soil and it is difficult to keep the plant watered.
 When you do repot, the new pot should only be slightly bigger than the original pot.

If you are looking for a bright, flowering plant for anywhere in your garden, you simply cannot beat the bougainvillea.
 With such versatility, you can make your bougainvillea into any configuration you can imagine, and because of its stellar disease and pest resistance, it won’t require any of your time. 
Have fun with your new bougainvillea and happy gardening!