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Hi. I'm mad at everything today, but that's not helpful, so here are some rose-growing resources and tips instead. /1
First. Think about where you want to plant your roses. Roses like lots of sunshine, at least 6 hours a day, so don't stick the poor things on the north side of your house or in a shady corner. They might be okay, but they won't thrive like they would in sun. /2
Then think about the kind of roses you want to grow. Climbers need lots of space and can get huge (I didn't realize one of my first roses was a climber, and it is a BEAST now, but I love it). Some of them grow up to 12 feet tall and need support—trellises or ties. /3
I buy all my roses from three places: directly from @DAustinRoses, http://heirloomroses.com , and a local nursery called Otto and Sons (well worth the trek for their large selection of very healthy DA roses and other gorgeous varieties). /4
Roses usually come in three forms: bare root, a small 2-qt tub, and a larger tub that ranges in size up to about 5 gallons. I've planted all three varieties. If you get a bare-root rose, *make sure to soak it in water before planting*. I put mine in a bucket for a few days. /5
Also! Pay attention to the USDA zone and the soil where you're located. I'm in zone 10a, which is super mild, neither very not nor very cold, with lots of sun and very rich soil. Roses love it here. Depending on your zone, you'll want to feed and prune at different times. /6
Let's talk about food. My first year, I fed them Miracle Gro pretty regularly, but now I feed them fish fertilizer. It stinks to high heaven, but the plants seem to really like it. Here's the kind I give them: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Alaska-32-oz-5-1-1-Liquid-Fish-Fertilizer-100099247/100131259 /7
I use neem oil for pest control. We get a lot of aphids and caterpillars, and it seems to help. June is typically a foggy, damp month here, so that's when I tend to get black spot and powdery mildew, and I've got an antifungal spray (Liqui Cop) for that. /8
Pruning: don't get too aggressive the first year. Let the roots come in and get the plant well-established, first. Then, just make sure to give the plant lots of space internally so there's air flow. Trim off any damaged branches and any that rub against each other. /9
Most of these guys are hardy and hearty, so if you trim too aggressively, don't worry. They'll grow back. It just might take a little longer.
I promise, despite this thread, roses are pretty easy. I water mine 1x/week and spray as needed, but usually 1x-2x per season. /10
I promise, despite this thread, roses are pretty easy. I water mine 1x/week and spray as needed, but usually 1x-2x per season. /10
And if you want to grow roses, make friends with fellow rose growers! There are lots of good Facebook groups where I've learned a lot, and several friendly rose nerds on Instagram who've encouraged me. /11
I'm sure there's a ton of stuff I've forgotten to mention, but this is a good start for now (and has helped me feel less mad at the world). Happy to answer any questions I can or to point you in the direction of resources. /end
