Anticipate Problems in your Rose Garden – Preventative Steps to Purchase a Healthy Rose

When purchasing a rose bush it is essential to make sure that it is healthy before planting it in your garden. Choose an individual plant not just for its size or color but also for its strength and overall condition. There are key factors to consider when selecting a healthy rose to purchase.

To begin, make sure that your rose bush has healthy canes. This means there should be three to five main stems growing directly from the base. These canes should be angled up and outward. They should also be spread far enough apart to allow room to grow. The canes themselves should have a healthy appearance. There should be no holes, scrapes or blemishes. Do don t purchase a rose bush with canes that are discolored, soft to the touch or have sunken areas.

The next part of the bush to inspect is the foliage. It should be perky and spread out evenly along all stems. The leaves should be a deep, healthy green. However, it may look orange or reddish at the sight of new growth. The foliage should not be sagging or wilted. Also make sure there are no holes, ripples, or curling in the leaves of your potential rose bush.

If your rose bush has a graft it should be healed over and firm. The graft is defined as the section of the plant where the flowering part of the bush, or scion wood, is attached to the root system of another plant. This is usually done when you desire the blossom from one rose bush but would prefer the strong rooting capability of another bush.

If the graft of the bush appears weak, split, cracked, or damaged in some other way you should avoid purchasing that rose bush. If the graft is not strong the flower part of the plant will die off.

When purchasing a rose bush for your garden you should select a plant with healthy roots. When you remove the plant from the pot the roots should be filling the entire container. A healthy root is generally white and firm. Avoid buying plants that have soggy or limp roots. Also make sure that if you are buying a container plant that you check to make sure that there are no weeds attached.

Though the root system might be more difficult to check than the portion of the rose plant that is above ground it is important to do so. This is because if the roots are not healthy then the growth of the plant will be stunted and the rose bush will not thrive.

You should also avoid purchasing rose plants that show signs of insect or pest infestation. These symptoms include holes in the foliage, bight marks on the stems, and the visible presence of bugs.

Similarly, you should stay away from plants that show signs of disease. Symptoms include spots, discoloration, mildew, and other signs of obvious damage. If you take a rose that is diseased home your risk spreading the illness to the rest of your garden and potentially lose many other plants.

Purchasing a healthy rose plant is a preventative measure that may help you avoid additional problems in your home garden. It is important to inspect all of the components of the rose bush listed above. It is equally important to shop for your plants at a reputable nursery with plants that you can trust. Before you make your rose bush purchase, ask if the nursery has a policy on refunds or exchanges. You should also avoid purchasing plants online or through a catalog. It is impossible to inspect the roses ahead of time, meaning your may get one that is unhealthy and causes problems in your garden.