Guy from Maine with Roses

by Rus Willette
(Portland, Maine)

I have been blown away by the success I have had growing roses in my small garden in Maine. When we first bought our home five years ago, I had no idea how much I would enjoy these two beautiful bushes that I can now count on to bloom well after the first frost. My wife thinks I am a bit crazy, but it keeps me relaxed.

There are a number of things that I have found to be an enormous help when working with these thorny creations (apart from gloves :) I have found that pruning the bushes as soon as possible after each bloom is the best way to see the next bloom. I will usually cut along the stem that the buds were on, and make a cut just below the first four leaf cluster I can find.

I have also found that using a plant food like Miracle Grow once a week works wonders. I have purchased their hose attachment and refill bags. It is SOOO easy. This makes the blossoms come out much quicker.

The most important thing I have discovered is that the soil must be nurtured during the winter months and again in the spring. The little garden is mulched, but I have seen an enormous difference in the size of the bushes and quantity of the flowers since I started working with the soil within the garden. We also have a vegetable garden and use the same tactic with it. I say that only because we order the compost (manure) once for all the gardens. I do this in the fall, before the frost. I am told that this allows the nutrients to seep into the soil over the long Maine winters and creates optimal growth the following summer. Once the spring arrives, we spread new topsoil, some more compost, and re-apply the mulch. Next thing I know, ROSES!!

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