Florabella's Guide to Radiant Roses 🌹

Roses are the timeless superstars of the garden. With their stunning blooms and intoxicating fragrance, it's no wonder they're a favorite. And while they have a reputation for being a bit fussy, we're here to let you in on a secret: growing gorgeous roses is totally achievable, especially with a little planning.

Let's get started!

Choosing the Perfect Rose

Before you plant, it helps to know what kind of rose you're welcoming into your garden. Here are a few popular types:

Hybrid Tea: The classic florist's rose with one large, elegant bloom per long stem. Perfect for cutting.
Floribunda: Known for producing big clusters of flowers, giving you a constant splash of color all season long.
Climbing: These roses have long, flexible canes that can be trained up a trellis, fence, or arbor, creating a breathtaking vertical display.
Shrub Roses: A hardy and easy-to-care-for group that includes popular varieties like Knock Out® and Flower Carpet®, known for their disease resistance and continuous blooming.

Planting for Success

Giving your rose a great start is the key to its long-term health and happiness.

When to Plant: The best times are in the spring (after the last frost) or in the fall (at least six weeks before the ground freezes).

Where to Plant:

Sunlight is essential! Find a spot that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun per day.
Good drainage is a must. Roses don't like to have "wet feet," so avoid areas where water tends to puddle.

How to Plant:

Dig a hole that's about twice as wide and just as deep as the rose's container.
Mix some compost or other rich organic matter into the soil you removed. This will be your rose's first meal!
Gently remove the rose from its pot and place it in the center of the hole. The spot where the canes meet the root ball (the bud union) should be right at ground level.
Backfill the hole with the amended soil, gently tamping it down to remove air pockets.
Water thoroughly right after planting to help the soil settle.

✨ Florabella Tip: Mark your new rose's location in the app and add its planting date to its profile!

The Rhythm of Care

Consistent care will keep your roses thriving.

Watering: Water deeply but infrequently. Instead of a light daily sprinkle, give your roses a good, long soak once or twice a week. Check the soil first—if it's dry two inches down, it's time to water.
Feeding: Roses are hungry plants! Feed them with a balanced rose fertilizer starting in the spring when new growth appears, and again after the first wave of blooms.
Mulching: Add a 2-3 inch layer of mulch (like shredded bark or compost) around the base of your rose. This helps keep the soil moist, suppresses weeds, and keeps the soil cool.

✨ Florabella Tip: Set a recurring reminder in your Florabella calendar for watering and feeding. You can even make notes on which fertilizers you used.

The Art of the Prune

Pruning can feel intimidating, but it's vital for keeping your rose healthy and encouraging more flowers. The main pruning is done in late winter or early spring, just as the new leaf buds begin to swell.

A simple rule to remember is the 4 D's. Remove any canes that are:

Dead (brown and dry)
Damaged (broken or cracked)
Diseased (have spots or cankers)
Dinky (thinner than a pencil) or crossing over another cane.

After cleaning up, you can prune the remaining healthy canes back by about one-third to shape the plant and encourage robust new growth.

Keeping Pests & Diseases at Bay

The best defense is a healthy plant! Good sun, water, and air circulation prevent most problems.

Aphids: These tiny pests often cluster on new buds. A strong spray of water from the hose can knock them off, or you can use insecticidal soap.
Black Spot & Powdery Mildew: These are common fungal diseases. To prevent them, water the soil, not the leaves, and ensure your plant has good air circulation (pruning helps!).

✨ Florabella Tip: Use the Garden Journal feature in the app to snap photos of any spots or pests you see. Tracking issues can help you solve them faster next season.

Happy gardening!