Some tips for selecting and growing picture-perfect roses from John and Jennifer Sheldon:
– Don`t choose a plant by the number of its canes or roots. Look for a short shank-the heavy stem below the canes. Make sure the shank is free of grooves, which are evidence of failed grafts and which attract excess moisture and insects.
– July is a good month for feeding organic mixtures, such as bone meal and fish meal. Take a one-cup measure and sprinkle it around each bush and scratch it in so it doesn`t blow away. Water well.
– When cutting roses, don`t take a long stem if you don`t need it.
”It`s not the fertilizer that feeds the blooms, it`s the foliage,” says Jennifer, who recommends floating the flowers in a bowl.
– Never prune or fertilize in the fall. ”As soon as you prune, the plant wants to grow.”
