7 Rose Growing Mistakes to AVOID, by Epic Gardening on YouTube. 14 min 23 s.
- Video length
- 14 min 23 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Water at the base of the plant and soak the soil deeply instead of giving light daily sprinkles. Deep watering pushes roots down and keeps the leaves dry, which cuts down on disease.
Deadhead spent blooms by cutting the stem back to a healthy leaf set with five leaflets. This pushes the bush to make new flowers instead of spending energy on seed heads.
Plant or place roses where they get at least six hours of direct sun a day. Leave space between plants so air moves through and wet leaves dry quickly.
Pick a rose type that suits your climate and space before you buy. Shrub and landscape roses ask for less fuss than tender exhibition types in cold or humid areas.
Prune with clean, sharp bypass pruners. Take out dead, damaged and crossing canes first, then shape what is left.
Make each pruning cut about a quarter inch above an outward-facing bud, at a slight angle. The new shoot then grows away from the centre of the bush.
Feed roses on a steady schedule through the growing season instead of one heavy dose. Too much fertilizer pushes soft leafy growth and fewer blooms.
Tips and common mistakes
Water in the morning so any splashed leaves dry before night, which lowers the risk of black spot and mildew.
Wear gloves when pruning, since rose thorns scratch easily and the cuts can get infected.
Keep pruners sharp, because crushed stems heal slowly and invite disease.
Do not crowd roses against walls or other plants, as still, damp air is what fungal problems love.
Questions
How much water does a rose bush need?
Aim for about an inch of water a week, delivered to the soil rather than the leaves. In hot, dry spells push a finger into the soil and water when it feels dry a few inches down.
Should I deadhead every rose?
Yes for most repeat-flowering roses, because it brings on more blooms. Skip it if you want the plant to form hips for autumn colour and birds.
Can I grow roses in shade?
Most roses flower best in full sun, at least six hours a day. A few cope with light shade, but you get fewer blooms and more disease.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
