Roses are perhaps the most loved and popular flowers among the entire botanical world. They are smooth looking, mysterious and beautiful; they reveal themselves among a number of layers of petals. However, they can also be defensive and aggressive, as their stems have pointy thorns. This combination of beauty and roughness makes the rose a magnificent flower. Even though specialists of hybridization tried to produce roses without thorns the result was just not worth it: the created species had no scent. The rose is considered the most romantic flower, a symbol of true love, admiration and affection. As such, it is put in bouquets and arrangements for various occasions all over the world.
The Flower
The rose, along with the water lily, is the oldest flower known to mankind. Rosa Gallica, the oldest species dates back 30 million years. The pink rose can be seen in cavemen’s paintings from the Stone Age. The Chinese began cultivating roses in gardens around 5000 BC. Ancient Romans used to throw rose petals when celebrating the return of their warriors. The first rose garden known in Europe was grown in the late 18th century. The rose has always been a loved and recurrent element in the work of artists, singers and writers. The rose was mentioned about 80 times in the works of Shakespeare, and Oscar Wilde told the legend of the Persian rose in “The Happy Prince”.
Tips for a Garden of Roses
If you want to grow a rose garden, make sure you choose the type of roses and rose bushes carefully so that they grow harmoniously, matching each other nicely. Here are the basics of taking care of a rose garden:
• Soil: a well-drained and slightly acid soil is best for a rose garden.
• Water: roses prefer plenty of water, especially in blooming and growing seasons. The roots should be fully-soaked, not sprinkled. For a rose per week prepare four-five gallons of water. Water the roses and rose bushes in the morning or around dusk, when the sun isn’t at its hottest.
• Air: If you choose to plant floribundas, grandifloras or tea roses, leave between 18 and 30 inches between them. Roses need plenty of space in order to grow. Even miniature roses require at least 12 inches of space from one another. Miniature roses are the least of all rose species favouring crowded space.
• Sun: you will soon realize that roses love the morning sun and they need at least 6 hours of full sun exposure, ideally in the mornings.
Choosing Rose Bushes:
• Hybrid tea roses and grandifloras are perfect choices if you want to grow roses with long stems and then sell them or keep them home as cut flowers.
• If you want to see blooms in the garden more often, pick climbing roses, shrubs or floribundas.
• Plant the bushes during spring and not later than early summer, so their roots grow solid until winter comes.
• Trim the bushes in spring, around March.
• Check for pests and diseases regularly.
Maintaining a beautiful and neat rose garden is a great way to bring beauty to the outdoors and indoors of your home. Moreover, this can give you the option to sell them as cut flowers or prepare different decorations and arrangements for events. It is a great way to start a small business with flowers, make a profit and be surrounded by beautiful and fragrant roses every day.
