Rooted in Goodness: How to Grow Roses

May 30, 2019

This article is sponsored by Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day. Views and opinions are my own.

This weekend I had the honor of hosting a Rose Workshop at the Dallas Farmers Market as part of the Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day #RootedInGoodness Spring Tour. The wonderful Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day team had the cutest booth set up for me with a complete hand washing station so that we could get squeaky clean after playing in the dirt. Attendees even got to take home their very own Bee Haven Floribunda Rose (sourced from my beloved Jackson & Perkins) in an adorable canvas bag after the workshop to plant within their own gardens! During the workshop, I explained to market-goers where to plant roses, how to plant roses, how to care for roses, and the best feed program for roses.

Where to Plant Roses

Roses, myself included, thrive in the sunshine. Find a sunny, well-drained spot to plant your roses. Do not plant them in a place that has standing water after a storm. Roses don’t care much for wet feet! Roses don’t like to be too crowded either so make sure they have plenty of airflow.

How to Plant Roses

I vastly prefer buying and planting bareroot roses. They look like twigs – not nearly as exciting as a gallon rose bush with blooms – but in my experience, they yield stronger rose bushes. Soak your bareroot in a bucket of water for at least twelve hours or up to three days. Dig a hole 18 inches deep and 2 feet wide and mound good soil up in the hole. (If you choose to plant your rose in a pot, use a plastic or fiberglass pot with holes in the bottom.) Set the rose on the mound of soil so that it rests comfortable with the roots spread around. Fill hole partially with water to settle the soil and top off with more soil.

Feed Program for Roses

I detailed my feed program in this article but here are the basics:

Use a time release rose fertilizer in the spring. Rose Dynamite works great and just needs to be sprinkled at the base of your rose when the first leaves appear in early spring.

Just like people, roses love a good spa treatment! Use a seaweed treatment every 3-4 weeks. I love Sea Magic. It’s inexpensive and easy to apply. Just follow the instructions on the package to mix your base then dilute half a cup of the seaweed base with water in a standard size watering can and water your roses. Seaweed boosts healthy roots, prevents disease, and makes roses more resistant to pests.

In the late summer, use a fertilizer like Rose-tone to give your plant an extra boost for the fall.

Caring for Roses

The tip that shocked everyone the most at my Rose Workshop was how to properly deadhead roses. Most people just want to cut the blooms off but the best way to deadhead spent blooms is cut about ¼” above a five-leaflet set, leaving at least two sets of leaves left on the stem. Cut at a 45-degree angle towards the center of the bush for the best shape.

In the winter, be ruthless when pruning your roses: cut back 2/3 of the plant, always at a 45-degree angle towards the center of the plant. Remove any canes that cross, leaving the strongest canes to thrive.

Water roses deeply once a week. An irrigation system is best, but I just use a hose to water roses at the base. Do not use a sprinkler. Wet foliage can lead to disease. Water in the morning in case you do get any splashes on the foliage. The heat of the day will dry the leaves out, so the plant isn’t wet overnight.

What does gardening have to do with Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day? The thoughtfully formulated household cleaning products leave your home smelling like a garden. Scents include Lavender, Lemon Verbena, Basil, and Honeysuckle. You could check out their newest Rain Water scent here.

“Smells like a Garden, Cleans like the Dickens”

I’m so proud to have spread some goodness in partnership with Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day. I had a blast teaching market-goers how to grow strong, healthy roses. I’m excited to say that I’m off to Chicago next month for the final event on the Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Rooted in Goodness Spring Tour. I’m going to teach Chicago how to grow herbs. I hope to see you there!