Miniature Roses
If you only have a very small backyard or limited space for a garden and you want to have at least one rose bush the perfect solution is a miniature rose bush. Miniature roses are available in a wide range of colors and are available from most suppliers ranging in price from $20 - $40. Surprisingly these diminutive plants are pretty easy to grow and can last for a very long time if cared for correctly.
Most miniature varieties are incredibly hardy, far more so than you would expect and will only need special arrangements for overwintering in the harshest of conditions or in the coldest climates. In most cases all you will need to do is place a good layer of mulch around the base of the bush. In the spring simply choose the best five or more healthy thick stems and prune back the rest. When pruning prune back to a bud which is outward facing (in a later article we may take a closer look at pruning miniature roses).
Miniature Rose Bushes
Porcelain Roses
My favorite dwarf bush is the porcelain rose and each year these wonderful plants produce countless dense clusters of blooms in a lovely range of colors. These plants are excellent for use in containers and window boxes and look superb when different shades are planted together. Popular varieties include, 'Millefleurs', 'Bouquetterie', 'Fridolin', 'Eleganta' and 'Fiametta' which can often be purchased as a collection.
Rosa polyantha
Rosa polyantha 'The Fairy' is a superb variety of miniature rambling/trailing rose. Available in a number of colors including white, pink and deep red, these miniature roses can also be used for ground cover or flowing over large rocks in a rockery or trailing down walls or in hanging baskets. There are few plants that are capable of competing with this mini rose for the shear number of beautiful cascading flowers this bush produces over an extended period of time.
Caring For Miniature Roses
As I have said earlier in this article this type of rose bush is relatively easy to grow in most situations. The only thing you really need to watch out for is poor quality sandy dry soil in which the plant will suffer to such a degree that it is unlikely to survive for more than a few months. If you have such soil consider growing them in containers or spend a great deal of time and effort to mix in huge amounts or organic matter before you plant the bush and mulch regularly.
Rose love organic matter such as compost but adding specific rose feed is highly recommended if you want to have the healthiest bush producing the finest flowers. Products which contain fish matter are really great for flowers and you will find that using organic feeds will often produce the optimum conditions for miniature roses, much like their larger cousins.
Another thing to watch out for is garden pests such as greenfly which can have a devastating effect in an incredibly short period of time. At the first sign of trouble spray with a mixture or liquid soap and water and, if the problem persists, purchase something a little more powerful.
