It was Gertrude Stein who said, in her famous poem, "A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose" statement that has been debated and discussed ever since she wrote it. I'm sure there are those who would say that if a rose isn't taken care of properly, it isn't much of a rose. At the very least, proper rose care is crucial, not only if you want it to look pretty, but if you want it (and the rest in your rosebush) to survive and thrive.
Most gardeners would say that the first step in the proper care of your roses is choosing the right roses, way in advance of actually planting them. You need to take into consideration where you want to plant them. You need to make sure that your flowers will be right for the temperature, light, humidity, rainfall (or the lack of it), soil fertility, root competition, and shade where you wish to plant them. Some roses are very particular about where they're planted, so you need to keep that in mind.
In order to choose the right flower for the right setting, it's important that you know your choices. Here is a list of the kinds of flowers available, and the best places to plant them:
* Species Roses. These flowers grow naturally throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They're vigorous, hardy, disease-resistant, and thrive on very little maintenance. This is a varied group, so do your research because some are easier to take care of than others. They range in size and color (white, pink, or crimson). Species roses tend to have simple, 5-petaled flowers that although they bloom in early summer, last well into the colder months of the year.
* Old European Garden Roses. There are five classes of these cultivated roses: Gallica, Damask, Centifolia, and Mosses. They were prevalent in Europe during the eighteenth century. They are very fragrant and although they aren't as disease-resistant as other species, are able to withstand the cooler temperatures in many parts of Europe and the Northern Hemisphere.
* Hardy Repeat-Blooming Old Roses. These include the Bourbons, Portlands, and Hybrid Perpetuals. They have exquisite blooms, powerful fragrance, extreme winter-hardiness, and excellent tolerance to disease. Don't expect them to bloom throughout the summer months, though.
* Modern Roses. In 1867, French horticulturist Jean-Baptist Guillot successfully developed a new class of rose from a tea/hybrid perpetual cross. This hybrid tea rose became very popular in the modern age; the most well-known ones are the hybrid tea, floribunda, and grandiflora. Modern roses are more difficult to care for, and don't do as well in colder climates than other species.
* Shrub Roses. These roses are species that don't fit well into other classes of roses. They include hybrid rugosas developed in the late 1800s, hybrid musks developed in the 1900s, and the more recent landscape roses. Other names include the English Garden, the David Austin, the Sub-Zero, the Dr. Buck, the Kordesii, the Canadian Explorer, the Parkland, the Meidiland, the Hybrid Rugosa, and the Hybrid Musk. They're extremely disease-resistant, have a nice, well-rounded shape, and can withstand the winter cold. They bloom throughout the summer months, and produce plenty of free-flowering, fragrant flowers.
Most gardeners would say that the first step in the proper care of your roses is choosing the right roses, way in advance of actually planting them. You need to take into consideration where you want to plant them. You need to make sure that your flowers will be right for the temperature, light, humidity, rainfall (or the lack of it), soil fertility, root competition, and shade where you wish to plant them. Some roses are very particular about where they're planted, so you need to keep that in mind.
In order to choose the right flower for the right setting, it's important that you know your choices. Here is a list of the kinds of flowers available, and the best places to plant them:
* Species Roses. These flowers grow naturally throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They're vigorous, hardy, disease-resistant, and thrive on very little maintenance. This is a varied group, so do your research because some are easier to take care of than others. They range in size and color (white, pink, or crimson). Species roses tend to have simple, 5-petaled flowers that although they bloom in early summer, last well into the colder months of the year.
* Old European Garden Roses. There are five classes of these cultivated roses: Gallica, Damask, Centifolia, and Mosses. They were prevalent in Europe during the eighteenth century. They are very fragrant and although they aren't as disease-resistant as other species, are able to withstand the cooler temperatures in many parts of Europe and the Northern Hemisphere.
* Hardy Repeat-Blooming Old Roses. These include the Bourbons, Portlands, and Hybrid Perpetuals. They have exquisite blooms, powerful fragrance, extreme winter-hardiness, and excellent tolerance to disease. Don't expect them to bloom throughout the summer months, though.
* Modern Roses. In 1867, French horticulturist Jean-Baptist Guillot successfully developed a new class of rose from a tea/hybrid perpetual cross. This hybrid tea rose became very popular in the modern age; the most well-known ones are the hybrid tea, floribunda, and grandiflora. Modern roses are more difficult to care for, and don't do as well in colder climates than other species.
* Shrub Roses. These roses are species that don't fit well into other classes of roses. They include hybrid rugosas developed in the late 1800s, hybrid musks developed in the 1900s, and the more recent landscape roses. Other names include the English Garden, the David Austin, the Sub-Zero, the Dr. Buck, the Kordesii, the Canadian Explorer, the Parkland, the Meidiland, the Hybrid Rugosa, and the Hybrid Musk. They're extremely disease-resistant, have a nice, well-rounded shape, and can withstand the winter cold. They bloom throughout the summer months, and produce plenty of free-flowering, fragrant flowers.
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