Eco Gardeners

Roses are my most favorite flower to grow. They provide the most colorful, perfect blooms that enhance any outdoor or indoor living space. Whether they are growing among your perennials or are the focal point of a formal accent garden or are enjoyed in vases in your home, roses bring a fragrance and beauty like no other horticultural specimen.

Many people are disheartened by the common threat that roses are difficult to maintain. Disease and pests can turn many away from even attempting to grow them.  The thought of using so many harmful chemicals can also discourage the inclusion of rose bushes in the garden.

I have been growing roses for as long as I have been gardening. And I have not used anything other than organic, non-toxic products on them for summertime maintenance and care. Following are some of my tried and true tips for continued beautiful, low-maintenance and ORGANIC roses:

• Condition the Soil: Healthy, organic soil will provide roses with a safe garden home and will encourage healthy, strong stem and leaf growth. Provide a summertime feeding by adding some compost or an organic soil conditioner (I recommend Happy Naturals Soil Conditioner for Roses) around the perimeter of the plant and cultivating it into the top 2-3 inches of soil will give roses a well-deserved boost.
• Water: Roses like to be watered at the roots. Limit water getting on the leaves and stems as humidity and water can lead to fungus and disease.
• Deadhead: Removing dead blooms will encourage reblooming. I recommend pinching spent blooms right off from the base of the bloom leaving as much foliage as possible. After deadheading, water your rose plants with an organic nutrient supplement such as SeaResults Micronutrient Solution.
• Pests and Disease: If you see signs of aphids or Japanese beetles you can either pick them off by hand or use an organic pest control. I recommend Outdoor Foliar Feed as it is made from 100% vegetable oils and takes care of pests and provides nutrients that will enhance leaf color. If you see signs of black spot remove the affected leaves, discard and treat your plant with a fungus preventative to eliminate risk of spreading.

These are some easy ways to keep your roses looking beautiful all summer long. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me at annette@thehappygardener.info or post a comment/question below.