Roses are in full bloom right now, splashing color on backdrops of green lawns and homes across the country. Maintaining a rose garden takes time, but you'll soon find yourself enjoying the fruits of your labor. In relation to real estate, well-kept and lush garden enhances the attractiveness of a property. Roses are enjoyed by your family and friends as well as your neighbors. When it comes time to sell, a colorful garden just adds to the curb appeal. 

The different colors and pedal shapes draw you in for a closer look. There are so many varieties of roses, you can just about find them in any color or color combination. Some roses are known for frangrance.  They may have a perfume or sweet scent. One in my garden called "Mr. Lincoln," has a fantastic licorice scent. You can also cut your prized roses and give them to loved ones and friends. Don't worry. They always grow back.

Blooming season is pruning season.  Roses bloom from May to September. A warm and arid climate like we have here in southern California allows for an earlier start and later end, but for the most part, these are the blooming months.

Pruning your rose bushes is necessary for the overall vitality of the plant. What starts as a bud, blooms full and then wilts. In order for you other buds to get a better supply of water and nutrients, you should prune the stems of fully bloomed roses, especially wilted ones. Also cut dead stems and pull off any leaves with brown and/or yellow. Throw all your dead items into a recycle bin. Remove loose material around the bush. If there are any weeds or groundcover, gently pull them out, root and all. They are taking nutrients away from your plant.

Back to Pruning. Use small pruning shears with a sharp blade. Leather gloves come in handy as you don't want to cut yourself on the thorns. Find a healthy bud between the stem and a five leaf rack. It's best to choose one pointing away from the center of the plant. This promotes outward growth and allows for better air circulation. Cut at ¼ inch above the bud eye downward and away from the bud eye at a 40 degree angle. An expert told me it's 40 degrees while most say it's 45 degrees. Cutting further down on the blade makes a more shear cut. Don't fret over making a wrong or bad cut. Roses bushes are vigorous plants and grow back easily. You improve with each cut.

Two things a rose bush loves: Plenty of water and sun. Make sure you plants are getting enough water, especially during these hot summer days. It's best to water just before sunrise and a couple of more times during the day. If you're using a sprinkler system, make sure all your plants are getting hit by the water.  Shorter duration with more frequency is ideal.  For example, it's better to water for 5 minutes, 3 times a day as opposed to 15 minutes once. It's still a great time to fertilize too. I use the Miracle Grow spray can with a hose. It's packed with nutrients and pesticide to keep those plant eating aphids away.

Hopefully this will help some of you out. Feel free to comment or open discussion.  I'll get some pitures up in the next blog.

 Helpful links for Roses:

www.arg.org

www.heirloomroses.com

www.johnsminatureroses.com

www.descansogardens.org