America's national flower and the most popular garden flower is the rose. Today, there are more than 6,000 varieties, offering a wide range of forms, colors, and fragrances from spring until late fill. Roses can be used in the landscape as single specimen plants or in masses for an impressive color display. They may also be used as borders or hedges, on trellises, and in cut-flower beds. Each year new varieties, in a wide range of colors and forms, are introduced by plant breeders.

You can grow roses successfully with some thought and planning and a little regular care. Following are key steps to start you off right:

Select a planting site that receives a minimum of 6 hours of sunshine daily.

Plant roses in a well-prepared bed of garden soil liberally mixed with organic matter (well-composted animal manure, peat moss, or decayed leaves). A soil test should be taken several weeks before planting to help you to determine fertilizer and liming needs of the rose bed.

Water rose bushes frequently, with an inch of water each week from rain or irrigation applied during the early morning hours.

Remove flowers from the plant without damaging the remaining parts of the plant. Make clean cuts with a sharp knife or pruners.

Prune the plants every year to keep them healthy and in good form.

Regularly inspect plants to prevent insect or disease damage and treat as needed.

Mulch plants to conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds.

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