Gardening - Growing Roses -
                                           Tips on planting, growing and enjoying Roses
Roses in Paradise    by Pet Campbell

Rose gardening takes time and it takes dedication.
It can also be very expensive but I am as cheap, as I am lazy. I buy my roses on sale and I refuse to pay more than 5.00 for a rose. (Hint: eBay is a wonderful source for plants.)

Doesn’t that sound a little pompous? It probably is but it works for me.

I am the Lazy Florida gardener. If I have to sweat while tending my roses I am doing it wrong; unless of course, it’s mid afternoon and 6000 zillion degrees with
fresh out of the shower humidity.

Roses like to flourish and they adore being admired. Blooms can be as big as dinner plates because they are happy or they can sulk and refuse to bloom at all.

As you pick your roses tell them they are the queens of the garden, and
quite simply magnificent. However, do not say this loudly enough to be over heard or your neighbors will think you’re more than a little odd.

If you forget to pick or deadhead your roses you hurt their feelings and they will sulk and quit blooming.
Roses are also crybabies - too much water they mildew or develop black spot,
not enough water their blooms shrivel.

Sooner or later your roses will have every disease known. So how do you make roses thrive dispite problems?

This is what I do and it works, surprisingly well. When I plant roses, I dig a hole deep enough for the root ball. (Yes I do actually do this part myself.) It’s work, but if done quickly, it doesn’t take long to forget that you actually did that part.  Next, I spread a handful of Miracle Grow at the bottom of the hole, about a half cup for those of you who insist on absolutes.

I carefully avoid being raked by thorns, drop the rose into the hole and gently work the dirt back around the entire root ball.

Mulch around the rose, I use about five times what one would think is enough.
I use a 20 lb bag of shredded mulch here per rose. Turn on the water and let it trickle into the area till it is super soaked, about 500 decades in Florida, an hour elsewhere.

If a few days after planting if I see powdery mildew, I get the sprayer and spray right then. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda, one half teaspoon of regular dish soap (whatever brand you have) and one gallon of water, spray  making sure to get the bottoms of the leaves as well.

Spray once a week throughout the growing season and do not water at night.








Compliments of Pet Campbell
Read Pet's article on photographing flowers

Big pink rose blossem