Care of Rose Bushes

Pruning

• Help your roses prepare for spring by pruning the bushes during the dormant season. February is a good month to prune roses in North America before the spring buds begin to grow. You'll want to prune for shape and bush strength, removing dead areas and gently shaping the bushes.

Feeding

• A few weeks before the start of spring, bury chopped banana peels and crushed egg shells around your rose bushes near the stems, taking care not to damage or disturb the root structure. These materials provide potassium and calcium nutrients that help rose bushes thrive. Use a hand trowel or garden shovel to loosen and aerate the dirt around the bushes as you bury the peels and crushed egg shells.

Pests

• Aphids like to munch on rose bushes. These noxious little bugs will begin crawling on your bushes just as the buds begin to appear. But there is a safer, less toxic alternative to bug sprays. Mix water with a small amount of liquid dish detergent in a spray bottle and spritz this solution on your rose bushes. The spray solution will prevent the aphids from flying and they will die in a few days. The soap and bugs will wash away with the next rainfall.

Remove Buds

• Remove buds from your rose bushes as the blooms die off. This diverts plant energy toward new blooms and makes the bushes look better. Just snip them off with shears or use your fingers, taking care to mind the thorns.