JJ Wurst Landscape and Garden Center in Erie, PA

"Aren't roses difficult to grow? Don't roses need a lot of care and maintenance? Aren't roses only for experienced gardeners?" The answer to all of those questions is an emphatic "NO!" In order to keep your roses growing, thriving and blooming, there are a considerations and steps. If you've wondered how we keep our roses blooming throughout the growing season here at the Garden Center, keep reading to find out our secret method.

A well maintained, blossoming rose bush can transform your home into the envy of the neighborhood. You can plant roses as a statement plant in your yard, as an addition to your perennial beds or as a hedge for privacy. At the Garden Center, we strive to keep a variety of disease-resistant roses in stock so that every individual can find their own special treasure and meet their own needs. We carry a range of colors including red, pink, white, purple, lavender, yellow, orange and gold.  Roses may be one color, streaked, speckled or a variety of combinations. One popular variety is called 'Ketchup and Mustard' due to the red and yellow contrasting tones. Some of our roses are shrub types while others may be climbers, hybrid teas, miniature, or grandiflora roses. This basically describes the height, shape and type of flowers (single or clusters). Some people prefer singular, large roses while others may find clusters of roses more attractive.This season, we also have tree roses that can be planted in containers and placed on patios, decks or for your front door planters. In addition to their visual interest, most of our roses are known for their fragrance whether it be a hint of citrus, tea or fruits. As we hope you realize, there's much more to a rose than the color.

Prior to purchasing a rose, think about your site. Not every home can accommodate a rose just in the same way that not every yard is perfect for a red oak, ostrich fern or an azalea. In order to decide whether a rose is the correct choice for your yard, pay close attention to the amount of sunlight, type of soil and proximity to a watering source. First, roses need a location with full sun or with at least 6  hours of sunlight per day. This means that a spot receiving "morning sun only" or "afternoon sun only" can still support a healthy, blossom-filled rose. Second, find out your soil type, which might mean digging a hole in your desired location. Roses prefer locations with a sandy loam. If you have a clay soils, think about adding an outdoor planting mix to help loosen and "fluff" up the soil. If your soil is sandy or filled with gravel and rocks, think about adding some compost or an outdoor planting mix to help give more nutrients and structure. Don't want to spend your afternoon mixing soil? Try creating some raised beds or mounds for your roses. Third, roses need a site that is well drained as their roots don't like to sit in water. This means you may need to water them throughout the summer, especially during the hot days of August. So, select a location for your roses that is easy to access and close to a water source. Try to water early in the morning as this will allow the leaves and foliage to dry out during the day.

So, how do we keep our roses blooming all summer long? We prune! You should prune (cut) any old, faded or petal-less flowers from the shrub. You'll want to prune them to a leaflet with 5 leaves as these shoots produce the blossoms. If you cut to a leaflet with 3 leaves, the rose will continue to grow, but won't produce any flowers. As long as you consistently remove the faded blossoms, your rose will continue to bloom throughout the summer. Now, you may want to fertilize your roses after they blossom so that they always have ample nutrients and energy to stay beautiful. This also allows your leaves to stay their glossy green color throughout the season.

Now, if pruning seems like too much work, there is another option: the Knock-Out Roses. These roses were selected as the Best Low Maintenance Rose by Birds & Blooms Magazine in 2014 as they "self clean." This means they don't' require any pruning and will continue to bloom throughout the summer. In addition to the traditional Knock-Out rose, we do have the Sunny Knock-Out (yellow) and the Double Knock-Out with twice the amount of petals. By any means, we have a rose that meets your needs!