The rosebush is a plant that sits between ruggedness and delicacy, which requires knowing it well to avoid mistakes in its care.
But what is the rose?
Roses are certainly among the most beloved flowers in the world. Native to Central Asia and cultivated in China as far back as 5,000 years ago, the rosebush has followed the arc of human history through explorations and crusades, to reach us today.
From hybridizations to selections through adaptations to different soils, there are today more than 16,000 rose cultivars! With a very wide range of uses: ornament, the pleasure of giving, cosmetics, food…
Planting a Rose Bush
How to get started with planting a rose bush?
In the ground
Most roses prefer full sun and will require you to plant them in a very rich soil.
Plant in autumn in November–December, avoiding frost periods, and generously fill the planting hole with well-rotted compost.
The ideal planting approach is to dig a hole three times the size of the roots to give space for the compost. If you can, backfill the hole with rich soil other than the one you set aside when digging—perhaps a good quality horticultural potting mix.
In a pot
Wait until the early spring to plant your roses in pots and choose a pot with a depth of at least 50 cm. The roots of the rosebush go deep!
At the bottom of your pot, lay down gravel or clay balls for about five centimeters, because the rose hates excessive moisture.
Rose Care
Caring for a rosebush is simple, but regular monitoring and a few attentive practices are essential to obtain beautiful plants that bloom abundantly.
Deadheading roses
Deadhead the faded blooms as soon as you see them throughout the summer until early autumn: this will help your rosebush produce new buds. It’s also nicer looking!
Remove each week the faded flowers along with their stems for a few centimeters, just above the first fully formed leaf.
Watering the rose bush
Water your roses one to two times per week depending on your soil, ensuring they always have access to water without soaking them.
Once your rose is well established in the ground for 2–3 years, it will only need water during droughts. For potted roses, continue watering at the same rate.
Be sure to water only at the base of the plants, avoiding wetting the leaves which could encourage disease.
The Pruning of Roses
Essential for balancing the canopy and renewing it, pruning also allows you to select the strongest shoots for greater floral abundance…
When to prune roses?
After the growing season ends you will need to prune your roses to ensure they stay vigorous for the following season.
Pruning can be done from November to March, only when frosts are not to be feared.
How to prune a rose?
Cut at least two-thirds of the branches (including dead wood and too-weak or too-old shoots) while ensuring you leave about three buds on each cane.
Preparing your roses for winter
Once autumn sets in and pruning is done, the time will come to feed the roses – they are particularly hungry. Give them a good dose of compost at the base.
Before the cold arrives, you can cover them to protect them, perhaps with fir branches. Protecting them from frost will help them start up again as soon as nicer days return.
Rose Cuttings
From late summer through late autumn you can try your hand at rose cuttings. To start, choose a vigorous, current-year rose shoot, free from pest or disease damage, and cut the soft top portion to about 10 cm.
Then cut this same stem 15 cm lower ensuring you leave many buds.
Keep the top two leaves and remove the thorns from the portion of the stem that will be planted (about 5 cm) in a small standard horticultural pot.
Place everything in a warm and bright spot, but not in full sun, and water generously ensuring the pot does not sit in water.
At the first sign of buds, you’ve got it—your rose cutting has taken! Wait for small roots to appear beneath the pot and transplant into a larger pot to strengthen your cutting before planting in the ground.
Patents and rose cuttings
Technically, only roses that are not patented, which is rare, can be propagated by cuttings, as all others are subject to intellectual property rights.
So theoretically you would need the owner’s consent to take a cutting, but if the rose isn’t patented or if it’s growing in your own garden, don’t worry!
Climbing rose, shrub rose, remontant rose, climbing rose, rambling rose, stem rose, weeping rose… There are many varieties and it’s best to know the major families to properly care for your roses: they have specific needs…
