The selection of roses you can grow in your home garden is
enormous. With so many to choose from, finding just the right
ones may seem more like work than play. To make this process
easier, here are a few important factors to help you narrow down
your field of choices.
Color
How will the color of your roses affect your garden? For color
ideas, look at rose catalogs, at nurseries, and at your
neighbors' gardens.
You should consider the colors of nearby plants and flowers that
will be sharing the garden. Will the assortment of colors look
good together, or will they clash? For some gardeners, color is
a priority; for others, it's no big deal.
Climate
Choosing the right roses for your particular climate zone is
essential. In order for roses to grow healthy and bloom
generously, they must be able to adjust to your climate.
If your climate is too hot or too cold, or has the wrong amount
of humidity, it could weaken your roses and make them vulnerable
to pests and diseases.
Size
The size of the roses you choose is also very important.
Consider the height of the rose at full growth. If the rose
grows 15 feet tall, will it look unattractive in your garden?
Remember, roses vary in size. While some roses may grow up to 8
feet, others can grow as high as 20 feet.
Measure the area of your garden prior to choosing your roses.
Compare your width and height measurements with roses you'd like
to purchase. Your roses will need plenty of space to grow as
well as room for exposure to the air.
If you have only a small amount of space to dedicate to roses,
you may want to grow miniature roses. These roses do not take up
much space and they are easy to plant and care for.
Maintenance
How much time will you be able to spend maintaining your roses?
Are you one of those people who lives to be in the garden, or
are you more of a low-maintenance gardener?
There are several types of roses which are very
high-maintenance. Although they'll be dazzling in your garden,
they'll require a lot of your time. The classification known as
"Modern Roses" are very stunning, long blooming, and highly
fragrant; however, they are very high maintenance and are prone
to disease.
The rose classification known as "Old Garden Roses", on the
other hand, have been bred to be very disease-resistant and
require less maintenance. "Old Garden Roses" bloom for several
months at a time, and have a strong and beautiful scent. The bad
news is that people with strong allergies to fragrances will
have a terrible time around them. If that could be a problem for
you, then consider any of the variety known as "shrub roses".
They are also disease-resistant and long blooming, but produce a
mild scent.
If you're new to gardening and want to try your hand at growing
roses, landscape roses may be your best option. These roses are
easy to care for and disease-resistant. They'll look gorgeous
just about anywhere. If your garden has trellises, you can add
several climbing roses as well. Although climbing roses look
very similar to landscape roses, climbing roses have been
trained to grow upward like vines. They add a beautiful touch to
any home.
Whatever variety you choose, roses will be a wonderful addition
to your home.
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