Organic Roses in the Flower Garden
Many people believe growing their flowers and vegetables organically is healthier for them and their environment. It is natural that you may wish to grow your roses this way also. Using the pesticides and insecticides that are usually considered to go along with growing roses and keeping them healthy can cause many people have to health problems . Maybe you just don't want those kind of chemicals in your garden and around your children. This article will give some pointers in using more natural methods of growing your roses.
1. First do your homework and find out what type of roses grow well in your area. Buy disease resistant varieties. If you live in an area that has problems with a certain disease, look for a variety that is resistant to it. If you can, purchase organic roses. As they have already been growing with organic methods, this supposes they are "healthier". and not already loaded with chemicals. Thus they have a stronger immune system. Of course, buy roses with no blemishes on them.
2. Roses like full sun. Make sure they are placed so as to get 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day.
3. Do not crowd your roses together. Ensure that stress is reduced by providing lots of space for air to circulate around the bush. Take growth of the rose bush into account.
4. Plant your roses in good loamy soil. If your soil is not ideal, then amend it with organic material such as from your compost pile. You do have a compost pile, don't you? Roses like well draining soil but they don't want it draining as fast as you might get with sand, so amend your sandy soil. If you have clay soil, an alternative requiring a bit of work is to build a raised bed for your roses much like vegetable gardeners use. It should be at least a foot deep but more is better. Fill it with will amended soil.
5. Keep your watering consistent. Don't allow your plants to dry out and suffer stress before watering. Roses can need up to 2 inches of water a week. Water every two to three days. This, of course, depends on your area and the type of weather (how much rainfall) you are getting. Also, be careful not to stress the plant by overwatering and depriving the roots of oxgen.
6. Mulch, mulch, mulch! Mulching can reduce the stress on your rose in several ways. It helps to hold in moisture which can be very good in a hot, dry climate. It helps maintain a more even temperature in the root zone. And mulch can smother weeds that could be competition for your lovely roses. As the mulch decomposes, it adds more nutrients to the soil around your plant. Lastly, it can cut down on some of your work. ;-)
7. Roses are, what could be considered, heavy feeders. They respond well to fertilizer and should be fertilized on a consistent schedule. Most organic fertilizers are slow-acting and may produce less spectacular results of a non-organic fertilizer. Some organic fertilizers to consider are composted manure, fish emulsion, alfalfa meal, blood meal, and cottonseed meal. If you wish to have a truly organic rose garden, you should ensure that your fertilizer is also organic. Of all these the only one you can be sure is truly organic would be your composted manure if you know exactly where it comes from and how the animals are raised. Perhaps you should consider your own animals raised organically. Chicken manure is very high in nitrogen and some localities allow a small backyard flock. Make sure it is composted thoroughly as chicken manure is very "hot" and will burn your plants.
8. Prune your roses in the early spring. To keep your roses healthy, get out the dead wood, damaged wood and anything that starts to look diseased (and don't compost these trimmings). Thin out your plant to keep it from being crowded. Don't allow branches to rub against each other. This will allow air and sunlight to get to the whole plant keeping it healthier.
In part 2, we will discuss some organic methods of combating specific diseases and pests.
© 2005, Sandra Dinkins-Wilson
Find more Rose Garden articles, as well as part 2 of this article, and other gardening tips for Flower Garden Lovers at our website.
 Google News Updated : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:50:27 GMT Harford County Council tries for leaner budget - Baltimore Sun
Baltimore Sun - By Mary Gail Hare Harford County Executive David R. Craig met with the County Council last night and painted a bleak revenue outlook that will dominate the remainder of the fiscal year and continue well into the next. Sims wants pay freeze to balance King County budget Sims announces layoffs, wage freezes for county employees Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:27:45 GMT Nepal Plane Crashes, Killing Mostly German Tourists (Update1) - Bloomberg
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Los Angeles Times - LONDON - The British government Wednesday unveiled a massive rescue plan for its ailing banking system after days of unrelenting bad news for the financial industry here. British government to partially nationalize banks Rescue plan for UK banks unveiled Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:01:33 GMT In Florida, Palin keeps up attacks on Obama - Dallas Morning News
Dallas Morning News - JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Sarah Palin portrayed Barack Obama as a dishonest politician and a risky choice for president Tuesday as she wrapped up a two-day campaign swing through Florida. Sarah Palin, Freed? McCain, Obama and a 'friendly' town hall Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:39:26 GMT Absentee balloting began Tuesday - Las Cruces Sun-News
Las Cruces Sun-News - By SUE MAJOR HOLMES AP Writer ALBUQUERQUE, NM—It was only mid-morning on the first day of absentee voting, but 200 people had already shown up to cast their ballots at the clerk's office in Bernalillo County, New Mexico's most populous. Muncie takes advantage of early voting Voter numbers growing as deadline nears Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:16:38 GMT Obama connected with audience - Baltimore Sun
Baltimore Sun - By David Zurawik z on tv david.zurawik@baltsun.com The format of the second presidential debate was described as that of a town hall meeting, but it was pure TV from the "citizens" seated on risers on a brightly lit stage, to the candidates moving ... Candidates arguments are as familiar as their mistakes Cool Hand Barack Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:28:41 GMT Website Traffic Promotion |
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