The dark, purple flowers of Midnight Blue roses have a spicy clove scent.They bloom almost year-round in winter climates.They are easy to fit into nearly any landscape because they grow to a height of only 2 to 3 feet.To properly care for your Midnight Blues, you need to know how to plant, feed, and water them.
Step 1: The midnight blue roses look healthy.
The fight against rose disease starts at planting time when healthy plants will be more resistant to diseases.Plants with sturdy leaves and stems do not show any signs of disease or pests.Look to see if there are black spots, red leaves or chew marks on the leaves.These are all signs of disease.
Step 2: You can choose a sunny spot.
The Midnight Blue roses prefer the sun to shade them.They need about 6 hours of sunlight a day to be at their best.Container rose bushes should get at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day.
Step 3: There is a spot with well-draining soil.
Roses can be grown in soil that doesn't hold water.You should not plant them where you've seen puddles form.There's no need to perform any soil tests because Midnight Blue roses don't care about soil type or pH.
Step 4: The rose bush needs to be soaked overnight.
If you bought a rose bush without a container of soil, soak the roots in a bucket of water.The root system needs to be rehydrated before you plant the bush.
Step 5: A hole is needed to accommodate the bush's roots.
When the roots spread out, the hole needs to be wide and deep.The goal is for it to be a size of about 2 feet (60 cm) wide.If you find weeds or stones as you dig, use a garden fork to turn the soil over and remove them.The roses' roots will not be allowed to venture freely if anything is pulled up.If planting multiple shrubs, make sure they are at least 2 to 3 feet apart.
Step 6: Before planting your roses, add some manure to the soil.
Put some manure into the soil where you intend to plant your rose bush.You can buy well-rotted manure at the garden store.New manure can burn the roots of roses, so make sure the manure is at least 3-4 years old.Take a bucket full of manure and put it in a square meter of soil.Decomposed compost can be used instead of manure.
Step 7: refill the bush with soil by placing it in the hole.
The swollen area between the roots and stems should be just below the soil level.You will need to dig a deeper hole if it is too high.If it is several inches below the soil line, add more soil and manure.In order to refill the soil, spread the roots out in different directions.If you put a long stick across the top of the graft union, you can see if it is level with the soil line.
Step 8: Water the rose bush.
To get water to the roots, Saturate the area around the bush rose to remove any air pockets.There is a puddle of water at the base of the plant.
Step 9: To help fight weeds, apply a layer of mulch.
The organic mulch should be spread over the dirt around the Midnight Blue rose bush to help keep the soil moist and prevent weeds from growing.Keep this level throughout the plant's life by applying a 2 to 3 inch (5 to 7 cm) layer.Bark mulch can be used to remove insects and diseases.Pre-packaged mulch is the safest bet.The bag should say that it has been composted or sterilized.
Step 10: When the soil around the rose bush becomes dry, water it.
Wait until the top inch of soil is dry to the touch to water your roses.Give your Midnight Blue rose bush a long soak to encourage it to grow deep water-seeking roots that will help it survive dry periods in the future.In a hot, dry climate, your roses should be given 6 to 8 gallons each week.It is possible that you need to water your roses every few days.In a more moderate climate, you will most likely only need to water your rose bush once a week.It should be three to four gallons.Water in the morning to give the leaves enough time to dry out.
Step 11: foliar feed can be applied to the leaves.
Foliar feed is sprayed onto the leaves.It also protects the plant against disease.As soon as you see new growth on an older plant, begin feeding your Midnight Blue rose bush.Feed it a couple more times during the growing season, once after the first blooms form and the final time around midsummer.Water your rose bush before giving it something to grow.Fertilization shouldn't be given to a thirsty plant.Dosage guidelines can be found on the product packaging.Plants can be damaged by excess doses.You can sprinkle a slow-release feed on top of the soil.Next time you water the plant, you'll have to take the nutrients down to the roots.
Step 12: A container bush rose more frequently.
You can give container roses a feeding every few weeks in the spring and summer.If the soil feels dry, saturate it with water and check the top inch every week.Put the container on the ground.There is a layer of gravel at the bottom of the container.The rose will need to be repot into a larger container if it becomes too big.Look for matted roots at the surface of the soil or roots growing out through the drainage holes.
Step 13: Weeds grow around your rose bush.
If you want to remove weeds without damaging your rose bush, consider hand- pulling the weeds.mulch can be placed around your plant to stop weed growth.Rose roots can be damaged by hoes, so try to avoid hoeing weeds around your roses.Chemical weed killers can harm your rose bush.
Step 14: The rose bush needs to be Prune in the early spring.
Wait until the leaf buds start to swell, then use a sharp blade to make a clean cut.Just above an outer-facing growth bud, Prune by cutting at a 45 degree angle.There are buds on the rose stem.The new stem will grow there.Pruning above an outer-facing bud encourages the roses to grow outward, rather than inward, which can reduce air circulation and make the bush less attractive.After planting your new rose, don't trim it for the first two years.After your rose bush develops old growth or mature stems, you don't need to trim it.If you want to maintain the same size rose bush, trim back about 13 of the plant.If you want a smaller plant, trim more.
Step 15: Remove any growth that has been damaged.
If you can see a white center to the stem, cut this back.To encourage the flow and circulation of air, your aim is to have a plant that is well-spaced out.Close growing stems should be removed.Any old wood growth can be cut back on older plants.
Step 16: If you live in an area with mild winters, you should Prune in January.
In mild winter climates where shrub roses retain their leaves and bloom throughout most of the year, remove the flowers and leaves in January.The shrub will grow new foliage and flowers in the spring when you take a brief rest.
Step 17: The blooms last longer if old flower heads are removed.
The flower heads of the Midnight Blue Rose don't last very long.During the flowering season, remove the spent flower heads to promote the growth of more flowers.'Deadheading' will encourage the plant to produce more flowers rather than putting its energy into producing seed heads.To preserve as many leaves as possible, only cut the spent flower heads back to the first leaf.
Step 18: There are suckers that appear.
The shoots of the plant are called suckers.They appear from the ground and sometimes have leaves that look different than the rest of the foliage.Pull the suckers away from the roots by tracing them back to where they came from.They will regrowth if you just remove them from the ground.
Step 19: Make sure to dispose of any debris.
Cut flowers, leaves, and stems should never be left on the ground around the bush.Pick up all the clippings and throw them away because they can contribute to disease.They could end up in the soil around your rose bush if you compost them.
Step 20: Blackspot should be treated with a fungicide.
Blackspot is a disease that causes leaf loss.It can kill a plant.Large amounts of rain could cause an attack on the Midnight Blue rose bushes.To treat blackspot, spray the leaves with a fungicidal spray.Throw away any leaves or parts of the plant that have blackspot.Pruning to promote air circulation, only watering in the morning, and keeping the area below the plant free of debris are a few ways to keep the leaves dry.
Step 21: Rub alcohol on Japanese beetles to kill them.
Japanese beetles damage blooms when they eat the rose buds and flowers.Pick the pests off by hand if you see them.Put them in a solution of 1 part water, rubbing alcohol, or water with a little dish soap in it.Alternatively, you could use a pesticide.
Step 22: Use a systemic spray to prevent pests.
A spray that enters the plant's system will prevent pests from being attracted to your rose bush.Once early in the growing season, just as leaves are starting to form, apply this every few weeks.
Step 23: Take care of your rose plant.
Scales and mealybugs can be seen in your rose plant.Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that are usually green or white.Scales and mealy bugs are small, flat and rounded insects that look like cotton balls.Spider mites are invisible to the naked eye, but they cause tiny dots on the leaves and a fine web between the branches.
Step 24: The shrub should be sprayed with insecticidal soap.
If you spray them off with a strong stream of water from the garden hose a few times a week, you can usually get rid of them.If the pests become a serious problem, spray the rose in the early morning with insecticidal soap and be careful to coat the leaves and stems.The spray bottle for this type of soap can be found at garden or home improvement stores.The shrub should be sprayed until the liquid is dripping from the leaves and running down the stems.You can wash it off with a stream of water.