Grow Organic Roses

You don’t have to use harsh chemicals to grow beautiful roses. You just need to familiarize yourself with the different types of roses and find a variety suitable for your climate and conditions. Follow these steps, and cultivate healthy roses to compliment your organic lawn.

• Study Up: Do some background research on different breeds of roses to find out what will work best where you live. Here are just a few varieties that thrive in Atlanta gardens, each with their own unique look:
  • Knockout roses are a shrub rose that bloom in clusters, providing a wonderful hedge option.
  • New Dawn roses are pale pink climbers, quite fragrant, quick growers and don’t require as much sun as some other varieties.
  • Georgetown are a type of tea rose, ideal for cutting for arrangements with their dark pink center, fading to light pink.
  • Wiltshires bloom in a deep pink and offer a unique ground cover option. They’re low growers with a tendency to spread and re-bloom.

• Make Your Purchase: Once you decide what roses will grow best in your yard, find a local nursery that offers that organic variety. Select plants that don’t have many blooms yet, as they’re likely fresher and get your roses planted as soon as possible.

• Location, Location, Location: Ideally, you want to select a location that gets good morning sun and received at least 6 hours of sunlight, however climbing roses, and some other options can do with less sun. You’ll also want to plant them in an area with good soil and drainage.

• Get Your Hands Dirty: It may be easier to begin your roses in a pot if you’re new to this but they can also be planted directly in your garden. If using a pot, ensure it has adequate drainage holes. If planting in your garden, take the time to cultivate the soil with a shovel or tiller and work in organic soil and compost to provide essential nutrients.

• Ongoing Care: Routine maintenance will help ensure your roses stay healthy and bloom abundantly every year.
  • Water: Roses need a good deep soaking at least once a week when it’s dry.
  • Prune: Pruning helps stimulate growth and increased blooms. When and how to prune will depend on what rose you select, but regardless of type you always want to remove dead or weak branches from your plants.
  • Mulch: Refreshing your mulch will benefit your rose by moderating soil temperature, retaining moisture and reducing weeds.
  • Insect and Disease Control: Adhering to an organic tree and shrub program with balanced fertilizers, dormant oils and soil amendments will help protect your roses from pests and disease.

Think beyond your turf when it comes to organic lawn care. Give a hand at organic gardening. Boost your curb appeal naturally by adding an elegant pop of color with a rose variety that will thrive in your yard without the help of chemicals.