If you are looking for a hobby that can be relaxing and very rewarding, you should look at gardening. This is partially because it can be started with a small investment. Another reason is that can be done with a very small space and can fit into most lifestyles. Whatever your interest, growing a few vegetables to put on your table, inviting butterflies into your yard, or just adding some color to your life, you can do it with a garden. By following some simple tips, you can easily start a garden.

Where To Start?

Probably the most valuable gardening advice a novice can receive is to start out small. Regardless where your interest may lay. Be it growing some flowers, producing vegetables, or maybe rock gardening, start small. The project should be one that can be easily managed. With a smaller project, you are able to concentrate on the care and maintainence of all of your plants. This will make it easier to stop potential problems that will crop up along the way.

Besides, you will always be able to make your initial garden, what ever the size, larger. As your comfort and skill gegins to increase, you can begin to expand. As you are able to handle what you start with, your confidence will grow. And, as your garden gets larger, your abilities will follow right along. You will not get swamped by an overly large garden.

Let Your Plant Knowledge Grow

You do not have to know everything about gardening the day you plant your first seed. True, you should research your the items that you plan to plant before you go to the nursery. But you do not have to be a master nursery man before starting. The things that you need to know for starters are the best growing conditions. One thing that can ruin a garden very fast is putting your plants in the environment that they cannot tolerate. Check the tags on the plants to determine if they are shade tolerant or if they need well drained soil.

The information that you get from the product tags will not tell you everything you need to know. So, you do need to perform some research. You can purchase books for your specific garden type or the types of plants you are growing. You can perform your research on the internet or at the library.

This research should be done before you begin having problems. The old preventative medicine approach. If you can determine what types of problems are prevalent in your type of garden, you can be ready for the problems. With this type of knowledge, you may be able to head off any major assault on your garden by the normal pests. You will also have the information needed to diagnose some of the minor problems like water needs or incorrect nutrient delivery.

Bottom Line, Enjoy Yourself

One thing that is sometimes forgetten is that this probably started out as a hobby for rest and relaxation. Do not let it begin to be your task master. One thing that you must do is have fun. Otherwise, this will become a job and, over time, will get to the point that you just let it die. Make sure that you keep it an enjoyable, relaxing exercise.

If you would look up the origin for the name Floribunda, you would find that it comes from a Latin word that means “many flowered” or “abundance of flowers”. This rose sure does stand by what its name means. These roses have been described as some of the most colorful of the modern rose types.

They are bred to produce large double flowers, either

singly or in small groups. These usually appear during a long flowering period. They are either large, vigorous bushes or compact and suitable for more confined spaces. They can purchased as either half or full standard bushes. Typically, their flowers are arranged in low-growing large clusters.

The Floribunda rose was produced by crossbreeding a Hybrid Tea and a Polyantha in the 1920’s. It is considered to be a better breed than the Hybrid Tea because it has the capacity to produce many blooms over an extended period of time. This rose is normally grown for display rather for use as cutting-flowers. They are a great plant for landscape and will produce a lot of color for many seasons to come.

These plants, just like their ancestors, can be purchased in a large variety of colors and styles. These plants are much more vigorous and hardy than Hybrid Tea roses. Floribunda plants can normally grow to about four feet tall.

The Rob Roy is rose of the same size that has become very popular over the last few years. It produces flowers that produce a soft sweet scent and blooms that are a deep red color. The plants will continue to bloom from spring through late fall if they are not slowed by a severe frost. They are very good for use in mass planting.

Before you purchase your roses, you should have your location prepared. The soil should be well worked and you can add composted manure or other organic matter. Keep in mind that active roses enjoy a few inches of organic mulch. The flowers should be placed at a distance of 18 - 24 inches apart. This will give the plants plenty of space to grow.

You can buy your roses bare-rooted from November to March. These plants will be less expensive than container-grown plants. If you plan on planting a whole rose bed, this is the way to go. Once you get them home, place them the roots in a bucket of water. Let them soak as they hate drying. This is a good idea even if you have just brought them home from the garden center.

Dig a hole deep enough for roots to spread out, about 8 - 10 inches. You can add bone-meal to the soil. This is high in phosphates and will help your rose. Carefully place your plant into the ground. Cover the roots loose soil and pack any loose dirt firmly with your hand.

After you finish, make sure to water the new plants thoroughly. It is a good idea to water them daily for the first couple of weeks. At that point, you can move to a schedule of weekly irrigation.

As your plants begin to grow, you can prune them in the late winter months. A common practice is January or February, depending on your climate. Cut off the dead foliage and remove any debris from the bed and surroundings. Cut off all dead bark like canes. Dead flowers should be cut off to help promote new growth in the coming season. Do not compost the waste items as this may promote mites and other pests.

Do not prune your plants just to maintain a certain shape. Make your cuts so as to not injure your roses. Many horticulturists state that Floribundas younger than one year will grow better with a cane length of 6 inches. Weather permitting, you’ll want to fertilize in the early spring. By adding organic mulch to your soil, you will be able to enjoy your blooming flowers for months to come.

As in any new task that you begin, it is always easier if the correct tools are used. Rose gardening is no different. To become successful growing roses, make sure that you have the correct gardening tools.

Pruners

A tool that you will use daily, and should be of good quality,

is a pruner. You will find two types of pruner at the gardening/hardware store. The anvil type have blades that meet directly (hammer to anvil). The bypass pruner is constructed like a pair of scisors. The bypass type is prefered because you will cut the canes and stems as opposed to crushing them.

Loppers

If you are starting you garden, this is not a tool you need to begin with. But, as your plants begin to mature, this will be a tool that you will find hard to do without. It will help cut back the thick canes on an older, more established plant.

Long-Handled Shovel

Unless you want to increase your physical workout in the garden, it is a good idea to pick a lightweight shovel with a strong handle. If you choose a model with a fiberglass throat, you will have made a good choice. A model with a padded handle may cost a little bit more but will save you a number of blisters down the road.

Wheelbarrow

Unless you are going to play at rose gardening, I would suggest that you avoid buying a cute garden “carts.” You will be needing a a real wheelbarrow. As your gardening addiction, hobby that is, begins to take off you will have any number of items that will need to be hauled in and out of your garden. Some of these items will be quite heavy and you will be very glad that you bought a real wheelbarrow for the task.

Gloves

“You can complain because a rose has thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have a rose.” - Tom Wilson

Working in a rose garden is not the place to skimp on quality gloves. That is if you do not like feeling the thorns pierce your skin. I would get leather or heavy canvas work gloves. These will protect your hands from the thorns that are in your future.

Kneeling Pads

You will be spending a lot of time on your knees. So to protect them, you have a number of different types of pads. You can get the big 8″x15″ water-resistant pads with handles. Or you can get the strap-on knee pads. If you are looking for convenience, go for the kneepads. If you are looking for more comfort, you may decide on the large pad. Either way, get what is more comfortable to you as you will be using them quite a bit.

Short Garden Digging Fork

A good tool that you will use to work those small patches of soil is the digging fork. You will want to get one that is of good quality. This means having steel forks and a strong handle.

Watering Wand

This will be used for potted roses and for the bushes that are established in your bed. A wand will help get to the base of the plant for a soaking without getting shredded by the thorns. You will want to by a model that has a quick shutoff valve on the wand itself. It may also have a quick release fitting. If you do not skimp on quality and get one with brass fittings, not the plastic ones, you will have a tool for years.

Garden Rake

When you are starting out, you will be moving a lot of dirt around. A good garden rake is indispensable for this type of work. It should be sturdy with sharp steel teeth to break up dirt clods and level out the dirt. You will need ont with a strong handle.

Leaf Rake

Once the bed has become established, you will need a rake to pull the leaves and trash (grass clippings and other debris) out from between the plants. It might be a good idea to have two sizes of leaf rake. A large regular size for the normal tasks and a smaller size to work in between your established plants.

It does not matter if your tools are new or ‘gently used’ as long as they are of good quality. You will be able to buy your tools either at the local hardware store or local garage/yard sales. Where ever you get the items, take care of them and they will take care of you and your garden.

One disease that attacks a large number of roses is blackspot and is caused by the fungus Diplocarpon rosae. If your rose bushes begin to display the signs of Blackspot, you need to take immediate action. If not, your bush will begin to produce fewer blooms. Also, the plant may not have the ability to live thru the winter.

Even though blackspot is easy to identify in its more

mature stages, it may be hard to observe in the beginning. In fact, when the signs of blackspot do become noticeable, it is between 3 to 10 days after the fungus first germinated. The first first visible signs are black-colored spots on the leaves. As the fungus grows, the black spots begin to develop a yellow ring forms around them and the spots grow through to the underside of the leaves. Spots that are capable of producing spores become visible when you look closely at the leaves. As the black spots continue to grow the entire leaf may turn yellow. The yellowed leaves will begin falling off the bush.

Because it is a fungus, blackspot spreads easily. It will easily move from one bush to another if it goes untreated. This fungus can survive thru the winter on the fallen leaves. It can also live on the cane once the plant has been infected. As a result, you cannot depend on the harsher weather to kill it.

Being a fungus, blackspot can thrive in warm, moist environments. Once the spores become wet, they will germinate within 7 hours if the ambient temperature is between 65 F (18 C) and 75 F (24 C). This disease can spread quicker the warmer the weather.

The best way to keep this disease from developing or spreading among your rose plants is thru proper care and feeding. If you rake up and remove all dead leaves from around your plants and cut away any infected canes, you can reduce the chance that the spores will survive. When roses are still dormant and before the begin their spring growth, go to the nursery and buy wettable sulfur and a soap containing fungicide. Use these materials to pray all your rose bushes thoroughly. Because the spores cannot cling to the sulfur, the leaves you cover are protected. Since rain will wash the sulphur off, it is very important to reapply on a regular basis.

One of the conditions that the fungus needs to germinate is a wet environment. So, make sure that you keep the leaves moisture-free. One way to accomplish this is to plant your bushes in sunny locations. If they are in shady spots, the morning dew will not evaporate and this will provide as good spot for the fungus to grow. If you use a soaker hoses when watering, the roots will get watered and not the leaves. Watering early in the day will provide plenty of time for water to evaporate. To maintain good air flow thru, prune the bushes regularly. Another way to provide this is to allow plenty of room between the bushes.

At the first signs on your roses of Blackspot, cut away affected parts and throw the clippings in the trash. They do not go to the compost pile (remember the fungus will continue to live on the leaves). It is then time to spray the leaves with sulfur.

To help your roses to produce beautiful flowers year after year, give them a little bit of tender loving care.

If spring starts to appear in your area in late March or early April, then you’re an “early spring” rose gardener. But, if your March and April activities include skiing and sledging, you will have to wait a few more months to start working your rose garden.

Your early spring will be full of activity in your rose garden. This is when you prepare for the beautiful buds that will be appearing almost any day. Here’s a list of things that need to be done to prepare your roses for the coming growing season.

If you used mulch or dirt to cover your roses with a protective winter coverings, you need to clear this off. This should be gently removed to allow your dormant plants access to the spring rains and warm sun that lie ahead.

Your pruning activities will include cutting back any dead and damaged canes that did not survive the winter. You will also need to clear away any trash and debris from around plants.

A good way to prepare your soil so that it can nurture your plants is to add some organic compounds. This can be done in a couple of ways. You can purchase pre-packaged organics from a local garden supplier. Or you can create your own recipe by using a mixture of composted manure, mushroom compost, meal blends which can include alfalfa, cottonseed, fish and/or blood meal.

Since roses demand well-drained soil, you will need to work your soil with a shovel or other tools (like the Garden Weasel). This is in the case that it has become compacted during the winter. It may also be necessary if you see standing water after watering your plants.

Once you have completed the soil preparation is done, it is time to add your new plants. This may include expanding your garden by adding any container grown roses that you want to plant.

After you have completed your planting, you will need to begin protecting your plants form pests. This means your fungicide spraying. This can be done either immediately or within the next 14 days. Depending on who you ask, you will get different opinions and the choice is up to you.

It is wise to rotate through different fungicides. This will keep any of these pesky fungi from becoming immune to any one product.

It is wise to only use pesticides if you see evidence of damage. Be sure to keep a sharp eye out for aphids. They are as much a sign of spring as April showers. To help get rid of aphids, hit them with a blast of water, or mist insecticide to the affected areas.

You can imagine how hungry you would be if after waking up from a winter long hibernation! That is how hungry your roses are. The best way to help them out of dormancy to budding is to feed them about every other week through the growing season. You should also remember to water well after feeding.

Great, your rose garden is ready for spring. But, dont think that your work is even close to done. With spring beng near, summer is not far behind. You are just started with your work to create a beautiful rose garden.