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How to Make Flowers Last Through Winter

2009-12-07T16:00:00.001-08:00

For those who love flowers and love having outdoor and indoor flowers around their home, they know that winter can be a tough season on their plants. Cut flowers and potted flowering plants such as poinsettias and flowering bulbs can last longer when one adopts a few flower care techniques.

The following is a list of tips on how to make your flowers last through the winter:

Potted Flowers

1.When selecting a potted plant, the best choice would be a plant where there is just the bud that is showing. If there is no plant with just a bud, then pick a plant with bright green leaves. The plant you choose should not have roots protruding from the drainage holes. If there are roots this means the plant is root bound and should not be chosen

2.Fill a water catcher with small stones. Fill the water catcher with enough water to barely cover the top of the stones.

3.Water the plant. Pour the water until it coming out of the drainage holes. Place your potted plant on top of the stones in the water catcher.

3.Place your potted plant in an area where it will be exposed to about 6 hours of sun each day. Temperatures of the room that the plant is in should be about 60 degrees F., even at night.

4.Whenever there are dead leaves and faded flowers, remove them.

5.Keep the water fresh and clean.

Cut Flowers

1.Prepare a vase for the flowers. Get your favorite vase and thoroughly wash it with dish detergent. Rinse the vase thoroughly and dry it.

2.When selecting your flowers, pick flowers that have just begun to open or are still a bud.

3.Place the stems in a container of cold water. While the stems are soaking in the water re-cut the stems by using a pair of scissors. When you cut the stems, make sure you cut it on a slant to allow for better water uptake. Take out any leaves that are in the water.

4.Fill the vase with half water and half with citrus soda such as Sprite. A teaspoon of sugar added to the water is a suitable replacement for citrus soda. You can add a few drops of lemon to the mix if you do not use citrus soda. Add the appropriate amount of flower food. Add a 1 tsp. of bleach. Mix and then add the flowers and arrange them.

5.Place the vase of flowers in a cool area out of the sun for about 2 hours. This will help the flower absorb the water/food mixture thereby increasing the lifespan of the flowers.

6.Put your vase of flowers in a place that is away from direct sunlight, drafts, and excess heat such heating vents. At night, place your arrangement in the refrigerator, but remember to take it out in the morning. Change the water and food every few days.

If properly cared for, you can extend the life of cut flowers and keep potted plants throughout the winter.

About the Author:
Whether you are looking for a dozen roses, bouquets of fresh flowers, birthday flowers, or send flowers for funeral, we offer great selection at competivie prices. We are your online florist and flower shop since 1877. http://www.tidysflowers.com/

Keyword tags: fresh flowers,arranging flowers,dry flowers,flowers,florist,birthday flowers,funeral flowers,roses

Rose of Sharon

2009-10-16T18:17:00.001-07:00

Rose of Sharon, or Hibiscus syriacus, is a deciduous flowering shrub that has a few other common names. These are Rose of Althea and Shrub Althea. It is an ornamental shrub that is widely collected.

These are very valuable shrubs because of the fact that it has a late blooming period compared to other shrubs. It blooms around August, which means that your Rose of Sharon bush will offer you colour when many of your other shrubs have stopped blooming.

Appearance

These shrubs can grow to heights between eight and ten inches and have a spread of four to six inches. Some cultivars tend to stay shorter than that. Most bushes have small, deeply-lobed, light green leaves. It is vase-shaped and similar to other species of hibiscus, these bushes have flowers that come with a striking stamen.

Flowers

When this shrub blooms, it can give flowers that are white, lavender, light blue or red. Some even have double blooms. Lone flowers have a short life span, and generally last only a day. However, plenty of flower buds come up during the shrub's new growth, so that there is prolific flowering over the long blooming period in summer between the months of July and September. This shrub blooms quite heavily, and one of the reasons so many people love it is because of its attractive flowers.

Popularity

Because of the plentiful and attractive blooms this plant produces, it is well capable of being a good specimen plant. Many people buy this plant because it is very easy to shape the shrub, which makes it one of the primary shrubs people think of when they want to create some hedges around their garden. It cannot act as an effective privacy hedge, though, because the shrub is deciduous and only in summer will it be filled with dense foliage.

The bloom it produces attracts many bees, some of which are needed by farmers and naturalist, and they use this shrub as an attractive lure for such insects. It can also attract unwanted bees, so you should be careful when having this in your garden. This shrub is a heat-loving plant, which makes it popular with many growers who live in the south-eastern parts of the United States because the shrubs can withstand the tremendous summer heat.

Care Tips

This shrub prefers being planted in well drained soil with full sun. Older Rose of Sharon bushes have the potential to be susceptible to fungal damage if they are grown in locations that don't get full sun. It is able to tolerate wide ranges of soil pH and is also salt tolerant.

If you're going to prune them into hedges, then you should do so in early spring before the new growth starts so as not to disrupt the blooming and growth cycles of the plant.

In very hot, dry locations, the Rose of Sharon is susceptible to spider mites. New growth also experiences a problem with aphids. Spraying every now and again with insecticide or water mixed with bleach should take care of these problems.

About the Author:
http://www.dntnursery.com

Keyword tags: tn nursery, nursery wholesale, perennials, fern, shrubs, hedges, native plants, trees, roses

Roses For Christmas Gift Ideas For Rose Lovers

2008-11-22T02:42:00.001-08:00

It is said that one of Cleopatra's gifts to Mark Anthony was a bathing room full of scented rose petals, strewn across the floor to a depth of three feet! Personally I'm not quite that extravagant or possess such a large rose garden to produce so many fresh petals but I do appreciate the sentiment.

Christmas in the northern hemisphere means we look out over our rose beds of bare canes and some of us miss the summer blooms, the vibrant colors and the delicate scents.

Christmas gifts for rose lovers can help maintain the sentiment and bring joy to an otherwise heavy heart. To help you with your gift giving plans, here are a variety of gift ideas for the rose lovers on your 'nice' list.

Use Your Own Roses

If you have had the foresight to save and dry some of your own roses, why not use them to create a summer memory? A dry rose bud centerpiece or small door wreath both look nice, or how about using a variety of dried petals and a cinnamon stick to make up a potpourri which can easily be presented in a small wooden box topped with a rose bud.

Use Your Rose Hips

These wonderful little berries can be the source of many an unusual and welcomed gift. Boiled they can become a rose hip tea, rich in Vitamin C or added to your door wreath of dried rose buds they complete the Christmas color theme. My Aunt has the best idea however, she uses them to make rose-hip jelly. Now wouldn't a pot of that go down well at Christmas time?

Get Crafty with Petals

Dried rose petals, your own or purchased, can be used in paper-making, candle-making and soap -making. They bring color and some scent to all these crafts and their value can easily be enhanced by adding a card with dried and pressed rose buds. Gifts like these become even more poignant if the card noted that the petals being used had been cultivated in your own rose bed!

Crystal and Glass

Okay, so your not into crafts and you forgot to collect and dry your own roses this year. No Problem. What about a single rose made in crystal or a small tiffany style lamp with a rose design motif or, my favorite, a crystal rose shaped pendant? There are some stunning designs available that incorporate rose shapes and colors and these would be perfect for your rose loving friends.

Books and Stuff

Actually I really like to receive a yearly calendar full of rose photographs at this time of year. Books such as '100 English Roses for the American Garden' or any of the Peter Beales books make good choices. How about 'A celebration of Roses An Illustrated Anthology of Verse and Prose' if you prefer a more lyrical outlook, or 'And Roses for the Table A Garden of Recipes' for the budding chef on your list. Don't forget the notepaper and envelopes with printed rose buds or the yearly subscription to the 'American Rose Society'. Then there is another favorite of mine, a yearly subscription to my favorite magazine 'The Rose'.

Dabble in Oils

Not painting so much, although a nice framed picture of your favorite bloom would be a great idea, but rose oils. It's worth considering for it embraces both ends of the spending spectrum. Rosewater is both useful, fine scented and rather inexpensive, while rose attar (true rose oil!) is both exotic and costly. Who wouldn't like to receive even a small gift in this category?

Small Tools for the Spring

How nice to be reminded that spring will be around again and you will have a new tool to help you produce those superb blooms. My most used small tool is a water probe which is both inexpensive and invaluable. How about small pruners or a sharpening kit for old pruners? The ultimate gift in this category however is a pair of rose gardening gloves, the ones that are thorn proof and have long sleeves, covering the lower arms from scratches. These would really bring a smile to your rose lover friend.

When I was a child I always envied our relatives in Australia at Christmas time, because they got to spend Christmas at the beach, but now I envy them because they have a full rose garden of blooms at Christmas while I, living in the Northern Hemisphere, stare out at bare rose canes. I know the spring is coming so I go hunting for Christmas gifts for my rose loving friends and somehow this bridges the winter gap. Hopefully these ideas can help you with your gifts for your rose loving friends.

Oh, and don't forget, reminding them to get a tetanus shot every ten years is probably the most useful of all gifts, but of course it is a little difficult to wrap!

About the Author:
You can learn all about the crafts mentioned above at: http://www.rose-works.com. Crystal, Books, Oils and Small Tools can be seen at: http://www.rose-works.com/rose-works-store.html

Keyword tags: roses, roses for christmas, christmas gifts, gift ideas, christmas crafts, rose-works

Rose Gardening in the Fall: The 4 Most Important Tasks of Autumn

2008-10-17T06:30:00.001-07:00

For me, rose gardening in the fall is a little bitter-sweet!

My blooms are smaller, leaves are showing signs of wear and tear and yet the rose gardening I do now will be crucial to the success of next years growth. Lets call it rose gardening insurance.

The last rose show is over, the days start getting shorter and the children are back in school but as rose growers we still have work to dothe four most important tasks of fall.

PICK AND CLEAN

Stop fertilizing and start your clean up. From the beginning of September on, there is no need to fertilize your rose beds and pots because you do not want to encourage new shoots to develop as winter approaches. This is also the period of the highest incidence of mildew problems such as black-spot so it is time to pull away all leaves that show signs of disease and to rake the beds below to remove all traces of the black-spot or mildew spores. Yes, they overwinter so get rid of them with your garbage. Deadhead, keep the beds scrupulously clean and pick away at the damaged leaves.

RE-CONSIDER YOUR SPRAY PROGRAM

Continue spraying if you want clean leaves and blooms into early fall but put away your spray equipment as your rose bushes begin to go into dormancy. Leaves are beginning to curl and drop, rose hips grow darker in color and no new shoots are developing. These are the signs that your rose bush is slowly moving into the dormant stage and the the "do not disturb 'till spring" signs are about to go up.

If you want to spray with dormancy spray, usually oil and sulfur, wait until December or January when your bushes are fully asleep, otherwise store your spray in a dry, safe place and take a close look at how successful you were this season and whether you could cut down or at least be more aware of the environment. Did your plan work?

PRUNING RE-VISITED

You should have pruned your old growth roses or any that only bloom but once a year. Your climbers should be pruned to shape now and tied in to train them to grow in the right direction and shape for next season.

All other rose bushes are simply cut back to about waist high to stop the wind from causing them to whip around and break off, or worse still, loosen the crown of the bush.

Miniatures can be cleaned of wayward shoots or broken stems and given a short haircut.

Leave the serious pruning until spring, just be prepared for the winter storms.

PLANT OR RE-PLANT FOR THE NEW YEAR

Now is the time to plant your bare root roses in preparation for spring growth. It is also a very good time to move roses and to re-plant them.

Always plant with good, new soil with compost or manure added, but do not add nitrogen based fertilizers at this time of year. A cup of bone meal would help with root growth.

Bare root roses should be soaked in warm water for eight hours before planting to re-constitute them immediately following delivery to your home.

Don't forget to mound up all your rose bushes with soil to protect the crown from winter winds and the possibility of drying out. This protective mound will be slowly removed as the air temperatures warm up in the spring.

As you go into winter and your rose bushes go dormant remember that any rose gardening actions taken now will have a great effect on what happens in the spring.

Even in the Pacific North-West I have had the occasional rose bloom at Christmas and if you do it should be in a clean rose bed on a bush pruned and mounded up for winter protection.

Consider the four important tasks and your rose garden will thank you for it-- next year!

About the Author:
David LeAche is the author of http://www.rose-works.com where you can find out all about rose growing, photographing roses, crafts with roses and using petals, hips and rose-water. FREE monthly newsletter and FREE e-book for subscribers.Check out Html//www.rose-works.com

Keyword tags: rose gardening,rose growing,roses

Growing Roses - 5 Secrets to Growing Show-Quality Blooms

2008-09-13T22:17:00.001-07:00

My interest in growing roses is always re-charged when I get to visit my local rose show, and whenever I attend one of these annual events I like to take another rose enthusiast with me.

Our afternoon at the show always seems to produce the same sort of questions regarding the growing of show quality blooms and the inevitable inquiry, "what's the secret?"

Fortunately, growing roses with rose-show quality blooms is not as difficult as it might appear.

In fact, with just a few pointers and a little extra time spent in the rose bed, you could easily be the envy of your friends and neighbors, especially if you are cultivating hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras or miniatures.

So, what are the "secrets?"

1. Pick a winner in the first place.

When you look over the entries at a rose-show it seems like the same roses win on a consistent basis, so why not start by growing these winning names in the first place?

Of course the area you live will dictate the actual winners list but if you contact the nearest rose-society they will give you a list of last years and this years winners.

Make some comparisons and buy the roses that win, obviously they do best in your area and they have the pedigree you need. Find one you like and pick a winner to start with!

Your rose growing efforts should go into a bush with potential.

2. Prune low to produce quality stems.

If you are considering Tea roses these will need to be pruned very low in the spring to promote basal breaks and new canes that can be trained to be straight. The longer the straight cane of the rose the better. Straight, long stems are a must in rose shows and will make your blooms stand out as being something extra special. Prune away side shoots that will produce extra stems and watch for the 'straight and true'.

Pay close attention to pruning when building your list of rose growing activities.

3. Finger prune carefully.

A big secret to getting the bigger show blooms is to carefully finger prune out all but the largest, center bud on each stem. This has to be done very early when the buds first develop. This allows space and nutrients for one bloom, not several. If it is done carefully with a sharp fingernail, early in the spring there will be no sign of removal. No scar will remain on the stem and the center bloom will grow larger.

Growing roses should be a 'hands on affair'!

4. Use liquid organic fertilizer

The quickest way to get nutrients to your roses is with a liquid fertilizer, and the best solutions are mixed with organic ingredients, which are most readily absorbed by the plant.

Liquid fish meal or liquid kelp, for example, should be applied at least every two weeks during the growing season if you want to maintain strong stems and large, healthy blooms.

Roses thrive on a thorough watering on a regular basis and liquid organic fertilizer is a show bloom necessity.

5. Consider umbrellas and fridges!

In order to protect your blooms as they open, you will need to keep them safe from the elements.

Direct hot sun, wind or heavy rain will all have an effect on the color, intensity and shape of your prize rose. Petals are easily damaged and stems are easily broken.

Small umbrellas fixed to garden stakes, movable pots for placement out of the direct sun and paper cups used as "little hats" are all methods rose show enthusiasts useanything to protect their prized possessions.

Which reminds me that if your blooms start to open up early, before you need them to, cut them, put them in water and put them in the fridge at about 65 degrees. Blooms can remain in the fridge, undamaged, for about four days, and when taken out and their stems re-cut, will look as if they were freshly cut.

I have won many ribbons at various rose shows over the years and the five pointers outlined above have been the backbone of my efforts. You don't have to take your roses to the local rose show but if you follow the five tips above, you will be delighted with the blooms that you can grow.

Growing roses just got a little more exciting.

About the Author:
David LeAche is the author of http://www.rose-works.com, where you can find out all about rose growing, photographing roses, crafts with roses and using petals, hips and rose-water. FREE monthly newsletter and FREE e-book for subscribers. Find out how this website came to be so popular by visiting http://www.rose-works.com/about-us.html.

Keyword tags: growing roses,roses,rose gardening

Growing Roses: The Top 5 Mistakes Most People Make

2008-08-30T21:49:00.001-07:00

Growing roses is both an art and a science: as my gardening aunt used to say, "...it's six of one and half a dozen of the other!"

As a rose grower myself and author of a gardening website, I get many questions about why a certain rose bush has failed or what a person might be doing wrong. Over time, these many mistakes people make, began to fall into five major categories.

The five major rose growing mistakes that most people could avoid!

1. Planting in the wrong location:

Before you actually dig the hole for your new rose bush, consider the location. It will need six hours of good light including some time in the sun. It will need healthy soil where water drains well and other plants and trees haven't taken over with their own roots. Not in the shade of a large tree, or over a concrete pipe or in a pot small enough for a geranium! Take time to choose the right location.

2. Choosing the wrong bush in the first place:

My rose bush, Savoy Hotel, grew so large I had to move the neighbors fence! The estimated size was actually on the label when I purchased it, so check how big it will get and plan the space accordingly. Rose bushes are programed to grow to a certain size, not necessarily the height you want, so check the labeling carefully.

While doing this check, look up the hardiness of the particular rose. Not all roses grow at minus 20 degrees centigrade in Calgary! Some are very susceptible to certain diseases such as blackspot, and guess what, some rose bushes only bloom once a year!

Check these things out BEFORE you purchase.

Type of rose, color, scent, size at full growth, hardiness and blooming time: make your choices before you plant, not after.

3. Pruning at the wrong time of year:

I have an acquaintance who continues to question why her roses don't bloom: even though, every year she cuts out all the new growth as it tries to bud, because this new growth blocks her view out of her living-room window. Pruning at the correct time will promote growth and increase blossom production.

Climbers should be pruned in the fall and trained to travel where you want them to travel. Fall is the time to train your climbers, not the spring, because all you would be doing is removing the new shoots that produce the new stems and the new blossoms.

Hybrid Teas and minis that have a repeat blooming, get cut back in early spring and just given a short haircut in the fall to prevent wind damage during the winter. This cut back in spring promotes new growth and helps you to re-shape the bush.

Bushes that don't re-bloom such as most Old Growth Roses, get pruned right after the blossoms fade, sometimes after the hips have formed if you like to encourage the hips to grow: perhaps as late as the fall. Pruning at the correct time will produce a healthier bush and a lot more roses!

4. Not knowing exactly what you planted:

You will not have much success with one, two or three above if you haven't dealt with this one, and you would be surprised how many people tell me "...I don't remember the name....and I can't for the life of me find the metal tag....are you sure there was one?"

All roses come with a metal name tag and if they don't, go buy them somewhere that does!

Keep the tag on the bush and make a note of what it says, then in a year or two when you need an answer to a question about something that has gone wrong you can look it up and people like myself can help you.

Not knowing if the bush is a climber or a Polyantha, Rosa Mundi or Queen Elizabeth, makes a lot of difference. Knowing the name means you can check with your National or local society about the likely growing characteristics of your plant: knowing what it should be doing goes a long way to solving most problems.

5. Not tending to the W.F.D:

Of course, I know of several beautiful roses that have spread themselves along twenty feet or more of stone wall, and produced arm-loads of fabulous roses every year while getting no attention whatsoever: even abuse from passing car exhausts. But if you are going to be successful, don't fall into the trap of ignoring the W. F and D!

Water, Food and Dead-heading, all play their part in rose growing 101 and you ignore them at your peril. Mistake number five, ignoring the W. F and D chores.

Water deeply at least twice a week. Put down organic rose fertilizer in early spring and early summer. Liquid fertilize every week or two and keep the rose clean of dead blooms otherwise the bush thinks it's finished for the season and go dormant, produce hips, and get completely confused. Keep the roses coming by removing the old faded ones. Your rose bush wants to make more babies....encourage it to do so!

If you tend to your rose garden and avoid these five major mistakes, the chances are high that your bushes will flourish and your roses will be the envy of your family and friends. Growing roses will have it's reward if you take notice of the five mistakes.

Growing roses just got easier.

About the Author:
David LeAche is the author of http://www.rose-works.com, where you can find out all about rose growing, photographing roses, crafts with roses and using petals, hips and rose-water. FREE monthly newsletter. Find out how this website came to be so popular by visiting http://www.rose-works.com/about-us.html.

Keyword tags: growing roses,roses

What You Need to Know About Roses

2008-08-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

Roses are one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden. They can also be one of the most difficult to grow. Caring for roses may take some time, but the rewards are worth it. There are many, many different types of Roses. Tea, Grandiflora, Floribunda, Old English, Ramblers, Climbers, Miniature, etc. Many of the newer hybrid varieties will bloom off and on throughout the growing season, while others have one spectacular show, with intermittent flowers later on. The "Knock Out" variety rose is a vigorous grower with fantastic flowers all season.

Roses have very particular needs. Roses need a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day. They also like light, well drained soil. The soil around their roots should be kept loose by cultivating often. This brings necessary oxygen to the roots of the plants. They also like to be fed a good organic fertilizer regularly and mulched around the base of the plant to help keep the roots cool in the heat of summer and warm in winter.

Roses also need regular care to keep insects and disease at bay. An insecticidal soap spray will keep away Aphids and Whiteflies. An organic fungicide spray will keep away Black spot, a disease very common to roses. Watering the soil around the Rose rather than the foliage is also a good prevention against Black Spot. If you have an irrigation system try to keep the Roses away from the direct spray, as Roses do not like wet leaves and will also not flower as well. If you keep a scheduled maintenance for insect and disease prevention, the care becomes very easy. If one waits until there is an infestation of one sort or another, it is much more difficult to eradicate the problem. The old adage "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" definitely applies.

When pruning your Roses, or simply clipping some for a vase, be sure to use good sharp pruning shears. Dull shears can tear the stems, leaving ugly dark marks. It also leaves a larger open wound for disease and insects to feast on. It can even inhibit new growth. When pruning a Rose, prune just above a leaf node. This will encourage the plant to grow bushy and thick. Leaving long stems will make the plant lanky. It is also important to prune out any old dead canes. Depending on the type of Rose, how they are pruned and cut back for the winter will vary. Check the instructions that come with the plant.

Roses look beautiful in both Formal and Informal gardens. They coincide well with perennials such as Lavender and Black Eyed Susan, they mix well in the Herb garden as well as an accent to Evergreens. A Rose Tree will make an outstanding centerpiece in any garden or as a focal point at an entry.

Roses have been revered by many generations of gardeners and non-gardeners alike. The beauty of Roses will enhance the look of your home year after year.

About the Author:
This article may be reproduced and/or distributed. This article was written by Vera Pappas, Owner of http://www.greennationgardens.com, a web based garden center, selling organic garden supplies and sustainable outdoor living products.

Keyword tags: roses, prunung, organic fertilizer, insecticidal soap, organic disease control, rose care

Growing Roses? Now is the Time to Show Off Your Rose Growing Skills

2008-07-31T10:27:00.001-07:00

It has been said that growing roses is a labor of love, because we all put a great deal of effort into their cultivation.

It takes a lot of time and energy to grow the perfect rose!

We should all be proud of the roses we grow, proud to share them with others and proud to display them for our family and friends. So how do you show off your skills?

Here are three different ways to become a "show-off" and share your rose garden treasures.

1. Display your blooms half open.

Cutting buds that are just half open allows them to continue slowly opening for the next few days. They must have started to open, the tiny, thin green leaves below the bud should have started to curl back, or the process will not continue. This pristine, slowly opening bud can easily become an intriguing talking point.

Cut them with a short stem and one clean leaf and use them as individual place settings for your dinner guests, perhaps a different, single color for each place setting. Or use empty votive candle glasses (without the candle that is!) and float a half open miniature rose bud in each glass. This makes a great centerpiece for a dining table especially outside. Or how about floating a large bloom, about two-thirds open, in a large brandy glass? (...with water not brandy of course!) One of the most stunning displays I ever saw was of five pink blooms, not fully open, floating on an almost flat, white smoked glass dish...and the scent wasn't bad either!

2. Photograph your blooms.

Try taking close-up pictures of your open rose blooms. Morning light is best, and remember to remove any damaged petals first. Two dramatic methods of displaying your rose pictures require fairly large scale prints of, preferably, single booms, which could be printed directly from your computer.

One way is to print the picture on to a cloth backing and stretch it across an artists picture frame to make a border-less wall hanging.

The second is to print a large version of your photo but in black and white. This is very dramatic especially in a black frame. Try a Sepia copy for the old historic look.

3. Don't forget your roses at party time.

You have worked hard in your rose garden, and the results were stunning. What better better way to share your success than to " eat them"!

There are recipes for making rose-water which is used in cake-making and punches. There are recipes for rose-jam and rose-hip marmalade as well as rose-hip syrup and tea. All great additions to a Mothers Day tea, by the way!

And what about party time gift giving? Dried petals and dried rosebuds make excellent pot-pouri, petals can enhance paper making and candle making. You can even use your rose petals in making "bath bombs" or moisturizer cremes: and how about making rosary beads? Some great gift ideas and a marvelous way to share your roses.

Why don't you show-off your roses to your friends and relatives. Display them, photograph them, use them for gift giving or even to eat! Share your roses with others. We can show you how to achieve all this. You can do it, we can help.

About the Author:
David LeAche is author of http://www.rose-works.com, where you can find out all about rose growing, photographing roses, crafts with roses and using petals, hips and rose-water. FREE monthly newsletter. Find out how this site came to be so popular at http://www.rose-works.com/about-us.html

Keyword tags: roses,growing roses,rose growing,photographing roses

Seeing The World Through Rose Tinted… Messages?!

2008-07-17T12:53:00.001-07:00

By Sheryll Cross

Roses are meant for all occasions. They convey diverse emotions and relations—from festive to bereavement, from platonic to sensual. When giving roses, one must take into consideration the implications behind the different rose colors and arrangements so as not to convey the wrong message (there is nothing worse than passing on wrong signals). But before you run to your nearest flower shop or click on the first online florist you see, here is a little color check.

Red roses mean romantic love; no other gift replaces a red rose on Valentines Day

You can never go wrong with the traditional long-stemmed red rose on that oh so sweet festival of hearts.

Pink is commonly equated with appreciation though it would really depend on the shade of said color. Feelings of sympathy find words with light shades while deep pink indicate a splash of gratitude. Like the pink roses, peach may also suggest either sympathy or gratefulness.

Purity and innocence—these qualities are frequently linked with white roses. In wedding celebrations, one may notice the use of white roses in bridal flower bouquets which embodies the genuine intention of both parties and their vow of loyalty to each other.

A bunch of yellow roses connotes friendship. The bright, sunny color will certainly evoke the feeling of warmth and happiness. An orange rose on the other hand means desire though same can be toned down by opting for lighter shades of orange like coral color roses.

Lavender=Royalty. Same applies to roses. Lavender roses shout opulence, magnificence and enchantment. For that fairytale perfect occasion, this is a sure go. This is also a rose fit to express love at first sight.

If you receive a deep burgundy rose, someone wants to tell you that you are beautiful---more than you realize.

The darkest shade of red rose is commonly tagged the black rose. Guys, it is not funny giving black roses to women to end a relationship. If you are planning to severe the bond, please do not bother giving roses. Just break it gently and say that you do not feel the same way (ouch!) Black rose and vendetta goes hand-in-hand. But for the liberal thinkers, this means rebirth or new beginnings---death begets new beginnings.

Colors are not the only thing to look out for; arrangements too tell a different story. A combo of red and white roses represents union. Two red roses joined together means engagement. Unopened rose buds connote youth and innocent love. Rose leaves symbolize hope and optimism.

Again, a quick visit to the web and an online florist will be of great help. An industry specialist is the key for the doubtful. Be certain to inform the flower delivery service with the specs of the occasion where the roses will be presented. However, one need not have an event or reason to give roses. Pleasant surprises have been one of life’s greatest gifts. You can even give yourself roses!

So I suggest you stop by a local flower shop and contract a flower shop delivery to help you get across that secret message to that oh so special someone.

About the Author: Sheryll Cross is a web copywriter for http://www.uswebsitebuilder.com, a web design company associated with http://www.lobbans-flowers.com , an online florist company in Vancouver.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=196748&ca=Relationships

Romantic Things To Say – Heart-Warming Romantic Lines

2008-07-17T12:49:00.001-07:00

By Mike Lee

So you don’t have Julia Roberts’ script writers to provide you with romantic things to say, neither does the rest of the world; but that shouldn’t deter you from pursuing love anyway. Romantic things to say aren’t set in stone, but like every lucid realization, they just come to you from out of the blue, ready to be deployed at the right moment. If not, then there’s always this article for you to read, and hopefully, learn from.

Although these lines are more applicable to men, women may find them useful too.

1. “You look amazing.”

When was the last time you complimented your partner on her looks? A heartfelt comment such as this can be a powerful and instant ego booster, can help her forget a bad day at work, and most of all, can make her feel loved and appreciated. You can never go wrong with a few choice words, but be careful not to overdo it. Nothing ruins a moment like the threat of routine and reducing it to something so commonplace. Plus, you might come off as insincere if that’s all you ever tell her.

2. “Come here.”

If you are in the middle of a fight and you feel that there is still a long way to go before you kiss and make up, asking her to “Come here” and giving her a tight squeeze may just be the starting point of resolving your differences.

3. “I never knew what I did good to deserve you.”

There is no need to consult a dictionary or a big, fat self-help book if you are looking for romantic things to say. What you need to do is look into your heart instead. With this line, you are admitting that you do own up to your shortcomings but you appreciate having her in your life.

4. “Holding you just feels so right.”

Physical intimacy is a big factor in any relationship. By telling her how right you feel whenever you are together, your closeness as a couple will be enhanced.

5. “Meeting you is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

If you feel like you’re running out of romantic things to say, a random sampling of your feelings every now and then is definitely the way to go. This is a common romantic line that will not make her think you got it straight out of a movie – because it is so simple; but if you say it in a heartfelt way, it will definitely melt her heart.

6. “I miss you.”

Absence definitely makes the heart grow fonder and if you have not seen each other for some time, saying, “I miss you” in person or even over the phone is necessary.

7. “Do you even realize how much I love you?”

This line, or a simple “I love you” is still the simplest romantic line that you can ever think of. Why do you think a lot of people make a big deal out of saying it?

It’s not only a matter of knowing what romantic things to say, but knowing how to say them is just as essential. Now that you know, perhaps the most important yet, is to whom you say them.

About the Author: Get 2 FREE amazing reports on how to attract girls and make women laugh at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/laugh-secret.htm

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=176451&ca=Dating

Transplanting Roses Tips For Success

2008-06-14T02:39:00.001-07:00

When is the best time to transplant roses? This is one of the most common questions asked by novice gardeners and one of the most popular topics discussed by dedicated Rosarians. There are no right or wrong answers and any experience gardener will have his or her own rules regarding this based on experience. There are general guidelines offering good advice for novices to follow, which can give successful results. However, it is a good idea to keep a record of the dates when you transplant your roses and observe their progress. This will give you a clear indication of which is the best time for you, to transplant your roses given the type of climate you live in.

For generally guidance, the best time to transplant roses is during a time when they are dormant. In northern climates this period falls at the end of the winter season. In a warmer climate transplanting can take place in late autumn or winter

Exposed roots can be transplanted any time as long as the temperature is above freezing level. Rose transplants will not survive if they are subjected to 10 degrees below 0 F. Container grown roses can be transplanted at any time of year but Spring is best, this will give the roots chance to spread and strengthen themselves before the winter sets in.

It is possible, although it goes against the general rule, for you to transplant roses before they become dormant. It isn't always necessary to wait, if you don't want to, you can transplant at any time during the growing season even during the height of summer.

If you cannot wait until the growing season to transplant your roses then you will need to put some safety measures into place to ensure your roses survive the ordeal. Before you transplant during the growing season, please follow these steps.

1) On the day before you plan to transplant your roses, give them plenty of water, making sure the roots are thoroughly wet; this will protect the roots and help them survive

2) Choose and prepare the ground before hand, making sure the area is in a sunny position. The soil needs to be enriched and nourished with plenty of peat and organic fertilizer.

3) Transplant your roses as soon as you take them from the ground. It is vital that the roots are not subjected to sunlight and dry air. If this isn't possible, keep the roses in a cool dark place, never expose to sunlight or heat, as this will damage your roses irreparably.

4) When you have successfully transplanted your roses you must water them thoroughly. Roses need constant watering during the growing season especially if they are adapting to new ground. Never let the soil get too dry, especially in the height of Summer.

5) There is no need to add any further fertilizer until you see new growth. If you add fertilizer too soon, before the roots have settled, you risk damaging them. The fertilizer may be too strong for the roots at this time. Remember, your roses have just experienced a traumatic disturbance during transplantation.

If your roses are not at their best and are beginning to wilt do not replant them during the growing season, otherwise you risk damaging them further, and they will not survive.

Roses are one of the most beautiful and aromatic plants that you could have in your garden. To obtain the maximum from your roses make sure you choose their location carefully. A well-positioned rose, which receives at least six hours sunshine everyday, plenty of air circulation, is in a reasonable quality soil which is not too waterlogged can produce the most beautiful flowers. As long as they are protected from freezing temperatures, have plenty of space for root growth and not overshadowed by other plants they will continue to grow year after year and give you the most amazing results and beautiful roses.

About the Author:
Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Keyword tags: rose gardening,gardening,roses,transplanting

Watering Roses Tips For Successful Blooms

2008-06-14T02:25:00.001-07:00

It's not always easy to attain beauty and accomplish perfection, but by following basic guidelines you can ensure a beautiful show of roses. One of the basic tips is to learn how and when to water your roses and keep in mind there are good times and bad times. So to encourage your roses and reward yourself with the best display ever, all year round, just follow these simple steps:

Morning Dew

We all know how wonderful it is first thing in the morning, when the fresh due has settled and everything is coming alive before the sun becomes too warm. This is the best time to water your roses, so they are fresh and prepared for the heat of the day. If you leave it until later, the sun will evaporate most of the water, leaving little chance for it to reach the roots. If you water in the evening the coolness will keep your plant damp, the leaves will stay wet which can cause mildew. However, not all of us are awake with the lark and able begin our watering regime that early. If you can't water early, do it as soon as you can. If it's early evening, try not to get the leaves too wet, just concentrate on the roots of the roses. The leaves will take care of themselves by taking in natural moisture from the evening air, keeping them free from mildew, insects, pets and fungal diseases, which can all damage roses.

Hazy Heat

Roses are well known for being thirsty and it's only a dedicated gardener who can keep up with the constant routine, but gardeners will be the first to tell you, that all the hard work and perseverance really does pay off. Roses on the whole require between 1 and 2 inches of water each week, one simple way of measuring rainfall is to invest in a rainwater gauge. You can then add the extra amount of water as needed to make up the 1 to 2 inches. The type of climate and soil that you have will determine the amount of water your roses consume. This is where your previous hard work pays off, by watering your plants well in spring you will have made your plants hardy and held them in good stead for the hot dry days of summer. You do need to be aware of the warning signs that not all is well and to keep these in mind when observing your roses. If the leaves are beginning to wilt then they probably just need their thirst quenching. If they are turning yellow and starting to drop off then that's a sign you are over watering and the plant is unable to breathe the oxygen because of water saturation.

It is also important you check for adequate drainage or ground that is not level, roses like a lot of water, but they don't like standing in puddles, so be mindful not to get carried away with the water hose.

Start at the bottom

The golden rule to remember is to always start watering at base of the plant where most of the energy and development takes place. The roots need to be healthy and strong to help the roses grow. The plants will take moisture from the air and draw from the roots. One way to ensure a constant water supply is to set up a drip feed or hose to irrigate the soil. Rose plants could receive approximately 1 to 2 gallons of water per foot per hour, according to the type of hose and pressure of your water supply. You could set up a timer to turn the water on and off at intervals during the day, very useful when you haven't the time to water or have to be somewhere else.

No Pests Allowed

To prevent pests from destroying your roses it's a good idea to spray every two or three days with just a fine mist of water, check your hose for a fine setting. A good quick wash will keep insects at bay but not enough to encourage mildew. Take care to flush the inside of the foliage where pests can collect. If you can do this early in the day it will give the leaves time to dry before the sun goes down and the temperature cools.

About the Author:
Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Keyword tags: rose gardening,gardening,roses,watering

The Thorny Side Of Things- Removing Thorns From Roses Properly

2008-05-31T19:44:00.001-07:00

Who has not heard the saying: Every rose has its thorns? To many people the thorn on a rose has symbolism, whether it is spiritual or otherwise. The thorn seems to state that even the most beautiful things in life have a little bad to them. You could even say that the thorn is there to say "hey, you got to take the bad with the good." No matter how you think of it there is some kind of meaning to it for most people.

In Roman mythology it is said that the thorns are there because Cupid was stung by a bee and started shooting arrows every where. Some arrows hit roses and because of the sting in the arrows the thorns took root and have been there ever since. Whether this is true or we will never know but if you are having trouble with thorns you should not be in despair. All you need is a little care and patience and you can remove these pesky daggers safely for a smooth stem.

When removing thorns from roses you have to be careful, the thorns are actually there to help the rose drink up the water. Therefore you have to be careful not to damage the stem when removing these sharp little daggers. It takes time and practice to know how to remove thorns without damaging the stem of the rose itself. If you accidentally peel or tear the skin you can hinder the amount water the rose gets.

You can take the thorns off the rose stems while they are still on the bush or you can wait until you have clipped them off. The best time to try and remove the thorns is when the roses are young and before they bloom if you are sure the roses will be cut sometime in the near future for what ever the reason. The proper method of dethorning roses takes time, practice and patience.

All you have to do is apply pressure to the side of the thorns and just simply push them off the stem. You can do this whether the rose is cut or still on the bush. Removing thorns from a rose can be a tedious task when doing it by hand. On some rose bushes the thorns can grow so close together that removing one is almost impossible without getting stabbed by another. This is where a dethorning tool can come in handy.

You can purchase a tool of the like called a thorn stripper, which will strip the stem of its leaves and thorns. You can also make your own by using some metal strapping that you can buy at your local hardware store. If you are going to make your own you should be sure to file the edges that will be closest to the stem of the rose, this will help not to excessively tear the stem up while dethorning the rose.

When using a dethorning tool all you have to do is hold the tool right below the flower and close the jaws and apply a little pressure and drag the tool down the stem. Be careful not to apply too much pressure or you could tear up the skin on the stem or you could even sever the stem. If you do this and heed the advice given, the thorns should pop right off. This may take a bit of practice but after a few tries you will know what pressure is needed to be applied.

You can also use a knife to remove the thorns from the stems of your roses. You can use a floral or a small paring knife to do this. When removing thorns and leaves from the rose stems you want to think about only removing the thorns and leaves that are going to be below the water level if you are going to put the flowers in a vase. Also you should only remove the thorns if the roses are going to be held or pinned on the body.

Remember that removing thorns from the stems can shorten the life of the roses. A good time to dethorn your roses is when you are making a plant litter pile to go into your compost pile. This will make it safer for you to work in your garden. After removing the dead and decaying roses from your bush or the vase in your home, remove the thorns and throw the remaining parts into your compost pile to help fertilize the ground.

About the Author:
Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Keyword tags: roses thorns,rose gardening,gardening,roses

Top Roses To Choose If You Dont Want Thorns

2008-05-31T19:37:00.001-07:00

Most people can barely imagine having roses without having thorns. They are so beautiful that most people are willing to risk the pain of the thorns. However, today there are a variety of different options available. In fact, today there are various rose varieties that are actually thornless. So, let's take a look at some of the top roses that don't have the thorns anymore. You'll be able to get rid of those gardening gloves and go on dealing with your roses without having to worry about thorns.

Rose #1 The Banksias Rose This is a rose that is just about thornless and it has been very popular with many gardeners. It was first introduced in Kew Gardens, just about 200 years ago. This Banksias Rose usually has many blooms on it during the flowering season of about two months. You'll find that it blooms in the early fall, in September and October and there are beautiful yellow double bloom flowers that look amazing. While the flowers are not that big, with so many on one bush, they are totally spectacular.

This type of a rose is a rambling rose that grows freely. However, you'll find that you can easily keep it in place by trimming it, since there are no thorns to worry about. It is important to note that this rose should not be pruned during the winter months, but it should be trimmed right after it finishes blooming. The flowers of this rose are produced in the wood from the growing season previous, so pruning during the winter months can be disastrous.

You'll find that the Banksias Rose is admired around the world, especially since it is easy to care for and grow. It is just about totally disease resistant and you don't have to worry about using fungicide sprays on a regular basis. Usually you won't want to use commercial fertilizer on it often either, and it should be planted in a sunny area that is well drained.

Rose #2 The Zephirine Drouhin This is probably the most popular rose that is nearly thornless. It was named after the wife of a French man who was a rose enthusiast, and her name was Zephirine Drouhin. This is a lovely Bourbon rose that should be planted in an area that will allow you to enjoy the wonderful fragrance of the rose. You'll find that it is a moderate climber that grows to about 10-12 fee high, even though some have reported that it can climb quite a bit higher. It is quite easy to train this rose to grow on an archway, up your porch rails, or even to grow on a trellis. Since it is just about thornless, you can easily handle it. The flowers on it are big and dark pink, and they bloom from about May to when the first frost is.

This rose bush is well known for the shade tolerance and it grows best in moist soil that is in the shade. You'll need great air circulation for your Sephirine Drouhin in order to keep fungal disease under control. If you want to keep it flowering well and help it resist diseases, you'll want to plant it in the full sun. You should prune it during the dormant season and you should destroy the dead leaves around it as well to keep disease away. The Zephirine Drouhin is quite susceptible to black spot, mildew, Rose rosette, and rust.

Rose #3 The Smooth Buttercup Thornless This is a variety of nearly thornless rose that has been praised by gardeners across the world and has won a variety of prizes as well. This is a compact floribunda that has clusters of blossoms that are golden in color. You'll find that the Smooth Buttercup Thornless repeatedly blooms throughout the entire growing season and the blooms have a light fragrance as well.

About the Author:
Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Keyword tags: thornless roses,rose gardening,gardening,roses

The Rose Garden\s Ten Most Wanted List

2008-05-31T18:45:00.001-07:00

The following insects have made it to the Rose Garden's Ten Most Wanted list. Read carefully so you can identify them and eradicate them from your garden.

1. Aphids

Aphids top this list because they are the most frequent rose pest. They love to nestle into the buds and shoots of rose bushes. While low to moderate levels of aphids will not do much harm to your roses, you need to keep an eye on how they spread. High numbers of aphids will produce a lot of honeydew. This substance encourages mold growth and will eventually cause your rose leaves to blacken. You may notice that your flowers shrink in size and the buds may even be killed. Lady beetles and syrphid flies are the natural enemies to aphids and will keep the population under control. You can also spray the plant with water or insecticidal soap. Aphids are usually a problem during spring and early summer. Unless you have a really heavy infestation, it is uncommon to have to use insecticides against them.

2. Spider Mites

If you notice your rose leaves are stippled or dried up and dropping to the ground, you may be infested with spider mites. These little insects are so tiny you may need a magnifying glass to see them. They like dry, dusty conditions. You can control spider mites by providing a little more water to your roses to cut down on dust.

3. Fuller Rose Beetles

Adult Fuller Rose beetles will eat at the flowers and leaves on your roses. Look for ragged edges on your foliage and blooms. They eat at night and hide all day on the underside of leaves. The best way to control them is to pick them by hand, since pesticides are not effective against them.

4. Thrips

Thrips leave brown streaks down the flower petals. When roses are planted close together thrips can become a big problem because it is easy for them to move from plant to plant. They like light colored or white roses best. Pesticides are only effective against thrips during their developmental stage. If you notice a thrip problem, clip and dispose of all infected blossoms.

5. Caterpillars

Some caterpillars do eat rose leaves. If you find any, remove the rolled up leaves and cut off any buds that have been damaged. Usually, caterpillars won't harm the plant enough to make any permanent damage.

5. Rose Slug

The rose slug is actually the larva of a sawfly. They look like caterpillars since they have legs. Wash them off with a good spray of water or let one of their natural enemies do the dirty work for you.

7. Leafcutter Bees

Leafcutter bees cut semi-circular holes in rose leaves to take back to their nests. There is really no way to fight them other than killing them. It is recommended by many sources not to kill bees since they do all the pollinating, so you may just need to put up with this.

8. Rose Curculio

Yellow and white roses are the preferred targets of rose curculios. They are only about a quarter inch long, but that doesn't stop them from punching holes in buds and flowers. The larvae eat developing buds, so the blossoms are killed before they even have an opportunity to open. You can get an insecticide against rose curculios at your local garden center.

9. Flat headed Borers

Flat headed borers will kill the canes. With enough damage, they can kill the entire plant. Remove any infested material and keep your roses healthy by not over pruning in the summer. Make sure your roses get enough water.

10. Scale Insects

Scale also poses a threat to your rose canes. Scale insects have armored scales. When you see them on a plant they look like gray round or oval bumps. They really don't move since they have no legs, so once you see them, you know where they are. The best way to combat scale insects is to prune infected canes and put pesticide oil on the canes that are left.

About the Author:
Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Keyword tags: roses insects,rose gardening,gardening,roses

The Five Best Hybrid Roses

2008-05-31T16:08:00.001-07:00

Do you enjoy roses and their pure elegance? Do you like getting roses for a special occasion? Do you wish you could have a garden full of roses each year? Many people enjoy all of these things; however, some of us are not born with green thumbs, and some of us never seem to obtain that green thumb. If you are completely new with gardening or you seem to kill even the easiest to take care of indoor plants, don't fret. With the vast variety of roses, there are many hearty roses that do not require a lot of work. Whether you're a new gardener, you don't have time to take care of a rose garden, or you don't have a green thumb, a hybrid rose bush might be your best option.

1. One of the best roses around is the Betty Prior Rose. This bush blooms during growing season, and the blooms never seem to end! The roses that this plant produces are breathtaking. The buds start off pink and blossom into a beautiful white rose. These roses are perfect for a gift or to keep around the house! The bush is very compact and it usually never grows over 3 ft. The Betty Prior Rose is very hardy and it is a great choice for anyone who loves roses but does not always have the time or experience to take care of them.

2. Another great rose bush that does not require a lot of attention is the Knockout Rose. This bush produces lovely roses that come in all different shades of pink, from magenta to a light pastel pink. This hybrid rose bush is one of the most enjoyable. It is very disease resistant, so you never have to worry about purchasing fungicides or spending time checking the leaves of the bush every week. It is also known to minimally attract insects. The Knockout Rose bush is very hardy and can even last in cold weather. The bush needs only a few hours of sun to live, so you can plant it anywhere!

3. The Nearly Wild rose bush is the perfect bush that is tough yet beautiful. The bush is known for its wildness because it grows and grows. When it grows, the Nearly Wild produces a thick bushy shrub. It does not grow very tall, ranging from 2ft. to 3ft. and it spreads and spreads. The flowers also add to this bush's greatness. The blooms are a beautiful pink that no one would want to pass up.

4. The Rugosa Magnifica hybrid rose bush is also one that requires minimal work. This rose has been around since 1905. The bush is able to live in all sorts of weather conditions, whether it is warm, cold, or a drought; the Rugosa Magnifica bush will still produce blossoms of color! This bush can be planted anywhere in the world, no matter where you live. From beachside to countryside, this hybrid rose bush is sure to provide you with the flowers you want. The roses are usually a crimson red, perfect to give to your significant other or an important friend. This bush can grow to be slightly taller than others, usually ranging from 5 ft. to 6 ft. The Rugosa Magnifica is a preferred bush because it is insect resistant and flowers more than once. The flowers keep on coming!

5. The Belle Poitevine Rugosa, which is related to the Rugosa Magnifica, is another hardy bush for any rose lover. This bush is so hardy that it can tolerate poor soil. If you have soil that is rocky or mixed with clay, this bush is perfect for you. The Belle Poitevine Rugosa can also live in the shade. The flowers are a lovely magenta color that is accented by dark green leaves. The blossoms are large and usually come more than once in the blooming season. The best part of this rose bush is that it provides a very strong scent. If you enjoy smelling the roses, this is the bush for you.

About the Author:
Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Keyword tags: hybrid roses,rose gardening,gardening,roses

Tea Roses Tips To Help You Make The Best Choice

2008-05-31T14:24:00.001-07:00

When many people think of rose beauty, they think of tea roses. They usually come with fragrant large blooms that are simply elegant, vibrant in color, and with velvet petals. If you want to add tea roses to your rose garden, you'll probably be overwhelmed with all the different varieties to choose from. In fact, there are actually hundreds of tea roses to choose from. You'll find them in various colors, sizes, and shapes. So, here are a few tips that will help make your choice a bit simpler for you as you pick the perfect tea rose for your garden.

Tip #1 Make Sure it Will Do Well in Your Climate One of the most important things to keep in mind when picking out tea roses is to make sure the one you pick will do well in the climate that you live in. If you live in an area that is quite warm, make sure that your tea rose can stand the heat. Live in a humid area? Then make sure the tea rose can resist various fungal diseases. Also, make sure that your rose is hardy during the cold as well.

Tip #2 Read the Labels Usually you'll find that the tea roses come with a description or label. Even if you look at it and love it, make sure that you read the label information on it. The last thing you want is a rose that won't thrive well for you, so read it first, even if you love it right away.

Tip #3 Do You Want Fragrance Are you looking for a tea rose that has a nice fragrance or do they cause you to sneeze and have a runny nose? There are some tear roses that smell wonderful and others that barely smell at all. Decide whether or not you really want a rose that has fragrance and this will help you make your choice.

Tip #4 Know the Growth Habits Make sure that you are aware of the growth habits of the tea rose when making your choice as well. Does it spread out, climb, ramble, or does it do well as a ground cover. Think about where you want to plant it in your garden and in what direction you want it to grow. Also, know how high it will grown and how wide. You don't want to plant a rose that ends up too big for the location you have for it.

Tip #5 Is it Disease Resistant? You'll find that every tea rose can get disease, but there are some that are more disease resistant than other ones. If you don't want to deal with diseases, make sure that you go with tea roses that are known as disease resistant

Tip #6 Consider the Care You'll also need to think about the amount of care that you can give your tea roses as well. There are some tea roses that take more attention than others do in order to survive. If you don't think you have plenty of time to give a certain tea rose the amount of attention that it will need, then consider going with one that only needs minimal attention from time to time.

Tip #7 Are You Going to Produce Cut Flowers It is important that you consider whether or not you want to use your tea roses to produce cut flowers. There are some types of tea roses that are better for cutting and displaying, but others can be quite fragile if they are cut.

Tip #8 Go with Healthy Plants If you go out to a nursery to pick out your tea roses, make sure you pick out ones that look healthy. Look for plants that have three canes that look strong. Also, avoid going with ones that have branches that are damages, roots that are brown, or foliage that is shriveled. Make sure the roots are b right white and that they have buds on the stems as well.

Tip #9 Take Color into Consideration You'll also want to consider the different colors available as well. Think about how different colors will go with the rest of your rose garden. Think about how the tea rose in full bloom will go with the rest of the flowers and the area around it as well.

Tip #10 Reputable Companies When purchasing your tea roses, you should make sure that you only purchase them from reputable companies. You don't want to try to save money by buying from cheap companies. The last thing you need is a sick plant, especially since disease can spread, so make sure you get it from a great company.

About the Author:
Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Keyword tags: tea roses,rose gardening,gardening,roses

Getting Rid Of Mildew On Your Roses

2008-05-13T10:05:00.001-07:00

Mildew is every gardener's worst nightmare, especially those who have rose bushes. The most known and most common mildew that effects rose bushes is one known as sphaerotheca pannosa. This type of mildew is powdery. The mildew is usually a white or grey powder that is usually found on rose bush leaves, shoots, buds, and the petals. Once the mildew attacks the plant, it spreads very easily and a gardener will soon notice white patches on the rose bush. The fungus eventually sucks all of the nutrients and water from the leaves, which in turn kills the leaves. The leaves eventually shrivel up and fall off of the bush completely.

The common powdery mildew is not caused by free water on the rose bush's leaves and other parts; instead the mildew lives and thrives on hot, arid weather. In fact, watering your rose bush in the afternoon will help rid of some of the powdery mildew because it will break up the spores that are released by the mildew during the daytime. If you can afford to purchase fungicides, they are also helpful in getting rid of mildew. However, the fungicide will only be effective if you apply it at the right time.

Another type of mildew that is common on rose bushes is the Peronospora sparsa fungus. This fungus causes downy mildew, which opposite of powdery mildew, lives in a moist and humid environment. The mildew is usually found under the leaves of the rose bush. If you think your rose bush has been infected with a downy mildew, look for red, purple, or brown spots on the leaves. This usually ends in the leaves turning yellow and then falling off of the bush.

Unfortunately, this type of mildew is not as easily controlled as powdery mildew. Fungicides have not proven to be helpful; however, routine rose bush pruning increases air circulation, which then reduces humidity surrounding the plant. Regular seasonal pruning is very important to the health of your rose bush.

If you cannot afford to purchase fungicides to get rid of mildew, or you just prefer not to use them, there are a few simple steps that you can follow to reduce the chance of your rose bush becoming infected.

1. Before you plant your rose bushes, be sure that they are all spaced. Hybrid teas should have at the least, 3 ft. distances and bigger bushes should be no closer than 4 ft. Keeping the plants farther away from each other allows them all to dry out quicker after you water them. Lingering water can cause and attract mildew, so spacing is important. Also be sure that your rose bush is receiving enough sunlight. Rose bushes that do not get enough sunlight will have thin leaves that can be easily taken over by mildew.

2. Prune until you can't prune anymore! This is probably the easiest and most important. Prune whenever your bush needs it. That means year round, not just during the growing season. Pruning your rose bush prevents mildew from forming because the plant is able to receive enough air and sunlight that is spread evenly throughout the plant helps prevent mildew. Pruning a rose bush is very easy. During pruning season, prune your rose bush by cutting above the new buds. This ensures that the new growth will be pointed outward instead of inward. It is also important to take time to inspect your rose bush to keep an eye out for any forming mildew. If you spot any dead or infected parts of the bush, simply remove it and then throw it out in a sealed container so the mildew does not spread.

3. When you water your roses, water them carefully. To prevent the growth of mildew, water your plants at root level. This is most important when it is hot outside. Avoid getting water on the leaves, especially if you water your plants shortly before it is nighttime. If you do not water your rose bush at root level, the plant will become dehydrated, which is a trigger of mildew.

4. To save money and time, try this home remedy for rose bushes. Many gardeners, both old and new, use the stinging nettle. This spray is easy and quick to make. All you have to do is collect stinging nettle, put them in a sack, and crush the leaves. Then put the sack in water and let it sit in a warm environment for about a week or so. Then strain the water and dilute it with water. Use this liquid and spray it on your rose bushes every two weeks. It is sure to keep mildew away. If you do not have stinging nettle, you can make a similar spray with these simple directions:

You will need:

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 gallon of water
1 tsp regular-flavored Listerine
1 tbsp liquid soap
1 ½ tbsp baking soda
1 tbsp vinegar

Mix a cup of water with baking soda, Listerine, soap, and vinegar. Add all of this to a gallon of water and poor the liquid into a spray bottle. Shake it up and you're ready to spray!

Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Keyword tags: rose gardening,mildew,roses,gardening

Hybrid Tea Roses Developing A Great Understanding

2008-05-13T09:58:00.001-07:00

From Teas, Grandifloras, Hybrids, and Floribundas, you'll find that there is a very vast world of roses, and there are so many different types, that even gardeners who are experienced may find it confusing. So, what are hybrid tea roses? Well, basically they are created by crossing the China Tea rose with a Hybrid Perpetual, which is a European rose.

Usually the roses that you see in windows of florist shops right before Valentines Day are hybrid tea roses. These are the images that most people have when they think of classic roses. They usually have rather large blooms, and for each stem, there is only one rose produced. These blooms unfold with large petals that look like velvet and come out in a variety of layers. They are often favorites of people who enjoy cutting long stemmed roses to display in their homes. Also, photographers love to photograph them as well, since there are many colors available and the petals look wonderful. Since they flower on a regular basis, usually hybrid tea roses are known as monthly roses or even ever blooming roses.

Back in the middle of the 19th century, the hybrid tea roses became very popular. In fact, they became the most popular rose to have in the rose garden. During the Victorian era there was a lot of experimentation done with these roses, using cross pollinization and it resulted in hybridized tea roses. The breeders during this time were working to bring perpetual flower roses together with a rose that looked beautiful and elegant, and they definitely achieved their goal when they started propagating hybrid tea roses. Putting the Hybrid Perpetual and Tea rose together was a great combination.

The first official hybrid tea rose was known as the "la France." It was discovered to a Frenchman in 1867, known as Giullot. In fact, they actually think that his discovery of this rose was accidental. He was working to create a yellow rose that was large and bright, but accidentally came up with a rose that was silvery-pink that had bright pink tips. It was a very fragrant and large flower for the time. With the beautiful colors and the huge blooms, the La France was definitely the star of the era.

Through time, hybrid tea roses continued to become more and more popular. With their long stem, it was easy to see the blooms and easy to cut as well. People loved their beautiful, vivid colors and the unfurling buds were so elegant that many people found them so much more beautiful and dramatic than any other roses. Also, the blooms they produced were bigger and they produced more frequently as well, making them quite popular.

Today most of the time hybrid tea roses are grown for the purpose of using them for cut flowers. During the Victorian Era they were prominently used for landscaping, but today they are not so common in this way. However, you can add them to your garden if you want to. If you choose to plant a hybrid tea rose in your rose garden, here are some tips that will help you find the right rose for your garden.

-Tip #1 Are you looking for a rose that smells wonderful? If so, then these hybrid tea roses may not be the right choice. You'll find that usually they only have a very light scent.

-Tip #2 If you are looking for a low maintenance rose, this is probably not the right choice. During the hot summer months, hybrid tea roses need to be watered frequently. If you don't have time to water on a regular basis, then these roses may not be for you.

-Tip #3 Looking for long stemmed huge blooms that you can cut and display? If so, then hybrid tea roses will be just the thing. However, if you are looking for roses for landscaping, you'll probably want to go with climbing roses or perhaps Grandifloras.

-Tip #4 If you don't want to deal with many thorns, you'll want to pick a different rose. You see, hybrid tea roses are known for their thorns. While there are a few thornless hybrid tea roses out there, they are often quite expensive and can be hard to find.

Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Keyword tags: rose gardening,hybrid tea roses,hybrid roses,roses

How To Prune Rose Bushes Properly

2008-05-13T09:06:00.001-07:00

Once winter ends and the spring moves in, dedicated gardeners dig out their gardening tools and get ready for the new season full of roses. Many of these gardeners grab their shears and put on gloves and set out to their garden to prune their rose bushes. Pruning rose bushes allows for the new buds to bloom in spring. Since rose bushes go dormant, depending on where you live, you may be able to prune your rose pushes before spring. For example, if you live in a warmer climate, you can prune your rose bushes in the fall.

As any gardener should do, take the time to get to know your plants. Gardeners who are planning to prune their rose bushes should figure out what kind of roses they have. Every rose bush is different from the next. The main purpose of pruning a rose bush is to remove and reduce parts of the bush overall. These parts can be pruned off because they are unnecessary. Getting rid of these unneeded pieces will allow more air to flow to the bush as well as more sun distribution. Both of these factors will keep the plant healthy which leads to more beautiful blooms of roses.

New to pruning? No problem. Follow these five straightforward and simple steps and before you know it your rose bush will be pruned to perfection. No matter what kind of rose bush you have, these techniques are sure to work for every single type.

1. Before you begin to prune your rose bush, make sure you have a sharp and effective pair of hand shears. To begin, cut away the dead wood and remove any canes that are broken or damaged. If you are not sure as to what good and bad wood is, know that live wood is usually a greenish color and dead wood is usually black or a dark brown color. Living wood will be white inside. The importance of getting rid of dead canes is that it prevents any sort of disease or manifestation to spread to other parts of the plant. Pieces of wood that are thin should also be gotten rid of to promote the growth of healthier canes.

2. The next step is to prune. Make sure that all of your pruning cuts are made just above the buds, usually around ¼ inch. Also make sure that all of your cuts are clean. For a clean cut, angle your shears at a 45 degree angle. Try to avoid incomplete cuts. These can attract disease and insects. A rose bud resembles a small ball that grows along the length of the stem. New shoots of roses will grow here, so it is important that you do not remove the buds. If you do, don't fret, you just might be a few roses short. When pruning, cut the buds that face inwards. Cutting these specific buds will encourage growth of roses that point outwards. An outward budding plant receives more sunlight and air. Cutting these buds also allows for a better shape.

3. During the pruning process, it is also important to get rid of suckers and rootstock and dead cane. These usually emerge from the ground. These are important to get rid of because they attract bugs and disease that could ruin your rose bush. Don't forget to pick up all of the debris around the plant. Instead, throw it away in the trash so that it does not attract bugs to your plant

4. If the cut you are making is important, you might want to seal it with white wood glue. A significant cut would be one that is wider than the diameter of a pencil. These cuts should be sealed to help the plant heal quicker. Sealing also makes the pruning process less traumatic for the rose bush and keeps the insects away.

5. Lastly, it is important to prune your rose bushes properly throughout the growing season as well as year round. Always check the rose buds for vigor. If you see a piece of the bush that is positioned in the wrong way, remove it once the plant has bloomed. It is also vital to deadhead the rose bush. This means removing dead blossoms. This allows for better growth in the next growing season. Happy pruning!

Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Keyword tags: rose gardening,pruning,roses,gardening

Rose Gardening Tips

2008-05-07T14:39:00.002-07:00

by K. Finch

Do you love roses? Luscious rose gardens add a beautiful atmosphere to any home and garden. Even beginners can grow roses with little trouble when learn the basics of maintenance. There are some gorgeous ideas for backyard rose gardening. Although there are many steps to growing a beautiful rose garden, even a beginner can do it. Here you will find some rose gardening tips for the beginner.

- First, choose your spot. Roses love sunlight; therefore, they grow best when getting at least 8 hours of sunshine daily. A full day of sunlight is best; however, morning sun is preferable to afternoon sun.
- Prepare the soil for your roses well. Although, roses are not fragile flowers, they thrive in good draining soil, with a pH level about 6 or 7. Roses flourish in soils rich in organic materials.
- Keep in mind that soil that does not drain well, leave plants open to the vulnerability of disease and roots rot.
- Add organic materials such as compost, peat moss and manure.
- Fertilizers come in various choices between organic and chemical fertilizers.
- Allow the soil to rest a few days as it settles.

Buying Roses
There are various choices available when buying roses, such as colors and the different breeds as well as the types such as bushes, climbing roses, grafted and root roses. However, you should be aware that the difference between grafted and root roses, is that grafted roses are those which are weaker roses that have been grafted onto a much hardier rootstock rose. Grafted roses do have the disadvantage of coming back as a different type of rose once it dies back in the winter. It is then the rootstock rose, which is generally not appealing. However, there are rose varieties that are available as grafted roses, such as tea roses.

Planting Your Roses
The last step in rose gardening is to plant the roses. It is essential to take care not to cause any damage to the roses, since any cuts cause the plant to become even more susceptible to disease, which makes it harder to care for. There are two types of roses available for purchase, they are container and bare root roses. The roots of bare root roses need to be moist. You can place the roots in a bucket with a solution of water and organic materials, such as fish emulsion, to reach the desired moistness. Simply pull out the roots and then cut off any soft, mushy areas.

First, you must dig holes where you will plant the roses, for either container or bare root roses. In the bottom of each of the holes, you should apply some potassium, either a banana peel or an additive from your local gardening center. Locate the root bulb; this area joins the bulb to the root of the plant stem. In milder climates, do not bury this; however, in cooler climates it is best to place them at least 3 inches underground.

Newly planted rose plants need a bit of pampering. This means you should water them daily for 3 weeks, as long as the soil has good drainage. Doing so will encourage your roses to flourish. However, you should keep in mind while watering your roses, to water the soil, while avoiding getting the leaves and flowers wet. Moist foliage encourages the growth of fungi. Many roses need pruning after they have grown, which in turn encourages new growth.

When you love roses and are searching for great gardening tips, you should visit your neighbors, the local gardening center or the internet, as these are all great areas to learn. With a bit of effort and patience, your rose garden will become an amazing place of beauty.

Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

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