Rose Bush Care

Water your roses in the early morning too. That gives the leaves and stalks a chance to dry before the heat of the day and will prevent scorching. Roses are water hogs, the more they get, the better they do.

Also, check the blossoms and stalks for parasites. Roses are really prone to infestations by thrips, which will eat a rose bud from the inside out and make it look like its dying before it even blooms. Earwigs are another problem. If you go to a good nursery, you can pick up a box of lady bugs which will take care of the thrips, but you do have to spray for the earwigs. Ask for something called Insecticidal Soap. You may want to have your DH spray that since you are taking care of small kids.

Also, when you clip off any blooms, take some Elmer's Glue and rub a small amount over the cut. This will prevent the stalk from drying out and will keep out burrowing insects.

Anything else that you spot that looks odd, like rusty or white scaly patches on the leaves or stalks should be mentioned when you are at the nursery. They will know what to do and can advise you. Or you can do some surfing on the web about rose care. Google "pruning roses" or "rose care."

Colorado gardening is a challenge even for those of us who've been at it awhile. To keep the roses blooming, trim off the dead blooms down a lttle futher to where there is a group of five leaves. The plant will rest for a week or so then start putting out more blooms. Fertilize the rose bushes about once a month with a general fertizier like "Miracle Grow". The bushes won't bloom as much when the temp. is really high. Be sure to keep them watered well when it's hot.

A good resource book is "Rocky Mountain Gardener's Guide" by John Cretti. It has lots of pictures and tell how to take care of plants in this area.

Take pictures of plants you can't identify and take them in to a garden expert at your local nursery.

Roses are not real fond of water on their leaves and blooms. Of course in the rain it can't be helped, but if you are watering them try to water the base of the plant. We have a drip system (one outlet to each rosebush). We have about 23 rosebushes and they are beautiful. I always have fresh roses in my house too. Our roses have been coming back better each year for the past 10 years. I live in Wyoming.