We are Dedicating this Post to Roses 🌹
AS they are vigorously blooming for the second time this year — YES, in October. Admittedly, not quite as spectacular as the first bloom in June, but nonetheless LOVELY to see this time of year (Check out some of these Fall Blooms!)
Rose beds are assumed to be high-maintenance and finicky, and we will attest that they are certainly not the easiest to tend to, but given that we have clients who adore their rose gardens, we try our very best to bring out the beauty of these roses.
Year after year, we learn more and more, and although 2020 has been an odd year for everyone, it marks the year that we realized we really have a “thing” for roses.
Rose Whisperer? Maybe!
Trust us, it didn’t happen overnight, but we surprised all of our clients — who serendipitously got to enjoy them even MORE than typical, as they retreated to their Berkshire homes a bit earlier this season, because of the pandemic.
We say all of this because, honestly… we surprised ourselves!
And we really couldn’t be more excited — and HAPPY that our clients were able to enjoy the beauty we have finally perfected.
So what IS the secret, then?
LOVE!
You think we are joking, but it's really only a half-joke. Because the secret really is just putting a little passion into it — or at least that is what it feels like for Generoso — and this will come with experience.
Of course it can only help to have the low-down on technical details, so here’s how we suggest one starts with making their rose garden AMAZING:
- Experiment with Fertilizers. Don't be afraid to feed those hungry roses!
- Prune & Deadhead More than You Think You Need To.
That's it — 2 tips.
We would really emphasize the pruning & deadheading. Many people are afraid to cut their roses, but this is where the experience, technique, and the sort of… learning to speak the language of roses comes in.
When you deadhead the roses, or prune parts that have just gone awry… you are relieving the rose from needing to put more growth energy into that unwanted part… saving more growing power for THOSE BLOOMS.
NOW before you go hacking away, we’ll remind you about the number game these roses have going on, and how it can help you with pruning.
We call it the Rule of 5
- Examine the cane of a rose… note the leaflets.
- COUNT the leaves on these leaflets — Do you notice a point where it jumps from 3 to 5?
- (The leaflets of 3 will be closer to the flower head)
- Where you find this first 5-leaf leaflet, you can cut at that junction.
- This is a great place to start, and will encourage new growth and flowering.
- In more “advanced” practice you can cut at any 5-leaf junction for shaping / aesthetic purposes.
- OH AND PLEASE WERE GLOVES AND LONG SLEEVES!
