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Some Thoughts On Planting Roses
Although all kinds of gardening is my passion in life, nothing
but nothing gives me greater pleasure than my beautiful rose
garden. They are just so stunning, and I do really love the
colors and the amazing varieties which are available.
To get the...
Tulip Divisions - Garden tulips and their identities.
Tulips are classified into 15 tulip groups or tulip divisions.
There are an enormous number of large-flowered hybrids and these
are classified into 11 of these divisions, according to
flowering time, plant shape, flower size and form. Species and
species...
Garden planning: essential flowers for cutting year round
How to plant blooms for year-round cutting. Fill your house with
fresh flower arrangements all through the winter, spring, summer
and fall.
You surely would laugh if anyone suggested that you could step
outside your mountaintop chalet in the dead of...
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Landscape Gardening Tips
Landscape gardening has often been associated with the painting of a picture. Your art-work teacher has told you that a good picture should have a point of interest, and the rest of the points simply go to make the piece more beautiful. So in landscape...
Trellis Training - What you need to know about Climbing Roses
Climbing Roses are a wonder of the rose world. Planting one can really spice up your rose garden or enhance the quaintness of your surroundings. You will be amazed at the vigorous, hungry growth of these powerful plants. They can be trained to climb on top...
Weed Control Facts: Winning the Battle of the Weeds
Keeping your landscape plantings, flower beds, and nursery crops free of weeds is a battle, but if you approach it with...
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Not Your Grandma's Heirlooms: Three Things to Know about Heirloom Roses
What exactly are heirloom roses? Heirloom roses (also called old or antique) are all the types of roses that were in existence prior to 1867 when the first hybrid tea rose was introduced in France. The heirloom roses became less popular with gardeners because they did not repeat blooms as the new roses did. Even today, many gardeners still see these old roses as somehow inferior to modern roses. Heirloom roses only produce blossoms for two to four weeks during the early summer, whereas modern roses bloom several times during the season. When heirloom roses bloom, though, they do so in abundance and the smell is simply intoxicating.
If you're considering adding heirloom roses to your garden (and you should), here are three important things to know before planting your first one.
1. Heirloom Roses are Diverse and Hardy
Heirloom roses come in an astounding array of colors, sizes, fragrances and flower forms. There are varieties of every shape and size so they can easily fit into your garden space whether you want short or tall plants or even climbing roses. With the number of different species, you'll definitely find an heirloom rose to suit your personal tastes.
Heirloom roses are particularly hardy plants. They are easy to care for and for centuries they thrived even without the use of pesticides. You can also grow heirloom roses in northern climates. Not all heirloom roses are suitable for northern climates, but if you do your research you'll find that many species are hardy enough to endure the long winter months of the Northern United States and Canada. Some of the hardiest varieties are Alba or White Roses, Cent folia or Cabbage Roses, Damask, Gallica, Spinosissima or Scotch Brier Roses, and Bourbon Roses. Damask roses are the least hardy of this group, but they are also the most fragrant and the blooms range in color from white to deep maroon. These roses have a long history of being used in the production of rose oil. Gallica is the most popular specifies of heirloom roses with a pleasant
but not overpowering fragrance.
2. They're Easy to Take Care Of - Really!
Caring for heirloom roses is no different really than caring for the more modern roses. To really thrive, heirloom roses need four things: sun, soil, drainage, water and proper air circulation. Your heirloom roses should be planted in a spot where they will guarantee at least six hours of sun per day. In terms of soil, you can start with a good quality garden soil and then mix in manure and compost to increase the nutrient levels. The roses should be watered regularly, but the key is proper drainage so the rose can have what it needs and the rest can drain away. Your roses need proper drainage - rose like most plants will not thrive if they are in wet, soggy soil for a lot of time. Unlike hybrid roses, heirloom roses should not be crowded together. They need room to grow and breathe. Most heirloom roses either do not need pesticides or they have an aversion to them. You will rarely have to use pesticides on your heirloom roses and if you do, you should use them sparingly. Pruning should be done in the spring to remove dead or diseased wood - but don't prune just for the sake of pruning! Heirloom roses really require no more attention than any other plants in your garden.
3. They're Worth the Effort
Even now you might still be asking yourself, why put in all this effort for a plant that will only bloom for two to four weeks? After providing the essentials that any other plant requires, they really take care of themselves and do not require a lot of attention. They truly are captivating plants with brilliant blooms and an intoxicating fragrance, and though heirloom roses may have lost favor with some gardeners, there is a long legacy or history attached to these plants. For centuries they enchanted royals with their sweet smell and many painters sought to capture the beauty of their short-lived blooms on canvas. You too can experience the profound beauty of heirloom roses by planting a one in your garden next spring.
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