This article may contain affiliate links. We get paid a small commission from your purchases. More Affiliate Policy
Roses are loved and admired for their beauty and stamina. But of what benefit would rose flowers be without their bloom? If you are struggling to make your roses bloom better, then here are some helpful tips:
Trim or pruning
When done right, trimming your roses helps the plant produce flowers throughout the season. Pruning rose flowers is best done in late winter or the beginning of spring. In short, the period could be anywhere between January and May, but it all depends on your climate.
If you just planted roses, pruning might feel a bit intimidating. All you need is a pair of gloves to protect your hands and bypass shears with overlapping blades for a clean cut. Also, it would help if you considered wearing heavy long sleeves to protect yourself from biting thorns.
Tips for trimming roses:
- Start by removing all the remaining leaves. This process is critical as it gives you a clear view of the structure of the stem. You also get rid of pests and diseases hiding under the foliage during winter.
- Secondly, remove the deadwood by cutting it back at the base. You can tell a dead or live stem by color. Live wood is green, while dead one is brown or black.
- The next step is opening up the center of the plant to remain g with upward-facing branches in the shape of a vase. To achieve this, you need to eliminate crossing branches that rub against each other, causing injuries and an opening for the entry of disease bacteria and viruses.
- Get rid of branches thinner than a pencil. These branches are weak and not suitable for the plant.
- You must trim the remaining canes or stems by cutting a quarter or half an inch above an outward-facing bud eye. This is because new stems grow facing the bud eye’s direction, and we aim for the new branches to grow outwards. As you cut, try making 45-degree cuts away from the bud eye. This will allow water to run off the cut area, as stagnating drops could cause rotting.
- You then need to seal the cuts to prevent rot. You can apply wound treatment compounds such as Bonides sealer.
- Clean up by clearing all the leaves and cutting branches around and underneath and dispose. These could potentially be infected, spreading the same to the plant.
- Feed the roses.
Use of eggshells
Eggshells are an excellent source of calcium for roses. Calcium is an essential component for plants, more so roses, as it helps form strong tissue keeping the plant strong and sturdy. Additionally, eggshells are locally available, and you can get them at zero cost.
There are different ways of achieving this. You can mix crushed eggshells with potting soil and it to the roses. Alternatively, crush the shells till fine and then sprinkle them over the topsoil around your roses. Keep in mind that crushing the eggshells helps release calcium into the soil at a faster rate. For this reason, crush the shells as fine as possible.
Use of coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are good for roses due to their high nitrogen content. Nitrogen is essential for the health of roses, among other plants. You can add the grounds to the soil or sprinkle some at the base of the plant. Alternatively, you can add them to compost and use them on the roses and other plants.
Be cautious not to use too much of these as they may do more damage than good. Too much nitrogen in the soil will result in stunted root growth and excessive foliage formation. A little sprinkle of these grounds goes a long way.
Use of banana peels
Banana peels are suitable for roses due to their high phosphorous content. To help your roses bloom, chop up some banana peels and bury them in the leaves of your rose plant. As you do so, ensure these peels are not in contact with the plant’s stem.
The other alternative for using banana peels on your roses is by pulverizing them in a blender. Add some water and blend the peels, then allow them to sit for 15 minutes. You can then apply the solution directly to the soil beneath the plant.
Phosphorus is essential for healthy root development and flowering. If your roses are low on this compound, you will notice leaf drops, buds that don’t open, and weak flower stems.
Mulching
Mulching benefits rose flowers by protecting the soil around the roses and the plant’s roots from harsh weather. Additionally, mulching is essential during rains as it prevents water from splashing on the leaves, causing diseases on the plant.
Besides, if you don’t mulch, depending on the terrain, your rose flowers will be standing in water whenever it rains, which causes black spots.
Mulching keeps the soil moist by preventing the loss of water through evaporation. If you use mulch, you don’t need to water your roses often, even during drought.
Another benefit of mulching roses is controlling weeds that compete with the roses for food in the soil. This reduces the need for weed control.
Ensure you use a mulch of two to three inches for proper mulching. You can use mulching materials such as wood chips, dry grass clippings, or straws.
Suppose you don’t have ideas on mulching. I have a video about proven garden mulch ideas. You can watch it below.
Feed the roses after mulching
Remember to feed your roses before mulching. It is also advisable to mulch twice a year: before summer and winter. All in all, it will depend on the type of mulch you are using. Avoid using rotten manure less than two years old as mulch; fresh manure will destroy the plant roots.
Watch out for diseases.
A wide range of diseases affects roses, preventing blooming or killing the plant. You must watch your plants and act as soon as you spot the signs before the disease spreads to other roses. The common conditions affecting roses include:
Powdery mildews
The signs of the disease are white spots on the rose flowers and leaves, and once infected, the plant part dies. For this reason, you need to control the spread of the disease by cutting off the infected parts. It would also help to disinfect the pruning equipment with an alcohol solution. To avoid the growth of fungus, you should avoid wetting the foliage. When watering late afternoon or evening,
Botrytis blight or grey mold
You will identify the disease by greying down on the flower buds and leaves. The condition causes the infected plant parts to dry or rot. Prune any infected part and uproot severely affected plants. The plant material should not be used in compost. As a preventive measure, you can apply a low-impact pesticide.
Rust
Affected plants will show yellow spots on the upper leaf side, while the underside will have orange pustules. Like the above, you should eliminate infected leaves to avoid spreading the disease. Low-impact pesticides are also helpful in the prevention of infection. You can alternatively use a baking soda solution for treatment.
Black spots
The affected rose leaves will have fringed black holes on the upper side, and the whole leaf will turn yellow before dropping. To control the spread, remove the affected leaves and destroy them.
Suppose you want to get rid of the black spots on your roses. I wrote an article on how to get rid of black spots. You can read it here.
Crown or stem gall
It is a bacteria that causes the stem of roses to form growths, also called a crown. Like the above, you must remove all the affected leaves and destroy them. There are two ways of avoiding the disease: plant rotation and avoiding injuring the plant.
Watch out for Pests
Pests cause rose buds and upper stems to wither and die, holes in the leaves and rose flowers, and swollen bands on the canes. Additionally, you see white or red maggots in the leaf buds and rose flowers. You need to remove all the infected parts to control the spread. You can also eliminate the larvae by cultivating the soil in the fall and early spring, thereby exposing them to predators.
Other diseases include: caterpillars, cane borers, rose aphids, Japanese beetles, spider mites, and leaf-cutting bees.
Use of fertilizers
You can use fertilizers from the store to feed your roses with the nutrients for healthy bloom. One thing you need to know about commercial fertilizers is that they act fast but don’t improve the nutrition content of the soil.
Roses don’t need fertilizers during the first year. However, as they age, they continue depleting the soil nutrient content. Some of the recommended fertilizers for your roses include:
- High nitrogen formula for healthy leaves and stems
- The high phosphorous formula for the healthy budding
However, you should avoid using fertilizers in winter as it encourages the growth of tender that is not hardy enough for the cold winter conditions.
Watering
Water is critical for the health of plants. You should always ensure that the soil is moist. As you water your plants, ensure you apply water directly to the soil without splashing it on the leaves.
You can use drip irrigation whenever the soil is too dry. Consider mulching as it will help retain as much water as possible during the dry seasons.
Alfalfa
Using alfalfa in your rose garden will help provide additional nutrients to the plants. You can use alfalfa pellets or meals by adding a cup for the larger plants and half for the smaller ones. Apply the compound directly to the soil around the plant.
Alternatively, you can brew alfalfa tea. Soak the pellets or meal in water and sit for some time before adding it to the soil.
Soil requirements
You need to be informed of the requirements of the soil for the growth of roses. If you make the right choice of soil selection, you are less likely to have a hard time using fertilizers and manure.
Roses require well-drained soils that do not retain water. This is because water prevents roots from breathing, making them rot. Mix compost or organic matter with excavated soil and use it for the planting hole to achieve a balance.
Planting site
The site you choose for your roses is critical in their bloom. You might be tempted to plant your roses at a specific location for landscaping. However, it would be best to remember that they require at least six hours of sun daily to bloom. Planting roses under a shade makes them susceptible to attack by disease and pests.
Choice of rose variety
There are different types of roses. Apart from your taste, it would be best to consider the suitability of the rose you want to plant. Some roses can bloom throughout the season, including knock-out roses, fairy moss, and bright melody.
Nursing rose roots
Roots are critical for the health of any plant as they take up nutrients and water essential for the growth and development of the plant. As you cultivate the soil around your roses, be careful not to hurt the roots.
Any damage to the roots will affect the plant’s health and ability to bloom. Additionally, when you damage the roots, you risk getting the plant infected with diseases. Extensive damage to the roots will take the plant a long time to recover and cause the plant to die.
Roses can be fickle to get to bloom properly. I am constantly asked about it, so I created the video below that shows you what the professionals do to get great blooms on their roses. Check it out.
Conclusion on how to make roses bloom better
If you want a beautiful rose garden, then you have to work for it. Now that you have all these critical tips, why not try them out?
If you found value in this article, subscribe to the blog for all future updates. You can do that below.
