Rose Garden
“The rose is a flower of love. The world has acclaimed it for centuries. Pink roses are for love hopeful and expectant. White roses are for love dead or forsaken, but the red roses, ah the red roses are for love triumphant.”
Roses are the flowers of poetry, fragrant and lovely amidst the thorns that guard them. You can grow roses, too. There are many newer kinds that are easy-to-care-for. Or you can pick some of the kinds that need pampering but reward you with exquisite blossoms that are well worth the effort. We are here to help; Amber Conover is our rose expert who can answer the questions you have so that you can be successful with these intriguing plants.
Seven Steps to Great Roses: 
Printable Format Planting Guide for Best Results with RosesHow and Why of Pruning Roses
- Don't Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
Pick the level of care you are willing to do. If you are willing to pamper, prune, and spray your plants as needed, then choose the gorgeous Hybrid Teas and Grandifloras. They will reward you with prize-winning blooms. If you are willing to give mid-level care, then the floribundas, climbers, and David Austins are great choices. If you want to plant them and give only minimal care, the Knock Outs and Shrub roses are your best choices.
- Position them Well
Roses love sun and they want good air movement around them. They should have well-drained soil amended with organic matter (We have had great success with Bumper Crop, mixing it into the top 6 inches of soil).
- Prepare Your Soil With Loving Care
We recommend using 1-2-3 when you plant. That means mix enriched organic compost blend in the hole, add starter fertilizer in the bottom of the hole, and soak the rootball with Rooting enhancer. Feeding your roses every 2 weeks until early fall will give you gorgeous roses.
- Plant Them The Right Depth
This is where many people make a mistake. Roses should be planted deep (unlike most other plants that should be planted no deeper than the depth of the rootball). With roses, the graft bud union (the swollen part at the base of the rose) should be planted 2 inches deeper than soil level. This will protect the rose from completely freezing out in severe winters.
- Pruning is Good
Trim off spent blooms to the nearest 5 leaflets to encourage more flowers. Open up the rose bushes to allow air and light to penetrate to keep diseases under control. Remove long stems and dead wood. Of course, when you prune wear some thorn proof gloves.
- Protect in Winter
Trim back roses half way and cover the base with a cone of mulch or soil. Do this in late November after the plant has experienced several freezes.
- Rely On the Advice of Your Consultants at The Country Basket Garden Centre
We want to partner with you so that your plants continue to thrive throughout the years. Never hesitate on stopping by and seeking advice about any particular problem you may be experiencing. The advice is free and helpful in keeping your roses beautiful.
Miniature Roses:
These little charmers are just as hardy as regular roses. They are easy to grow in the house or outside in a sunny spot, just like their bigger cousins. In the house, they prefer a sunny window.
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