Happy June! What a beautiful time of the year in the Hoosier state! The last spring flowers are falling away making room for the full spectrum of summer perennial and annual color. Echinacea, Phlox, Daylily, Bee Balm, the list goes on and on, all bringing unique characteristics to the landscape. Honey bees busily gather nectar, hummingbirds slurp up their sugar rush and butterflies just start to come out and gently perch in our gardens. Summer is a time for color, warmth and sun!  Let’s talk about a classic perennial shrub that embodies what we love about summer.  This weeks Plant of the Week is the Rose!

Roses have, in my opinion, a high maintenance personality.  They are beautiful in all the right ways, and they know it.  Given the tender care they crave a rose will absolutely transform a space, with bold colors and abundant flowers all season long. Yearly pruning, feeding (fertilizing and WATER) and the right planting location are key to getting the most out of your Rose. Pruning will help keep disease and rot away, while fertilizing will ensure strong growth and blooming.  Plant a Rose in a spot with full sun, well drained soil and good air flow, this will provide you with a good starting point.  Make sure to water regularly, Roses need at least an inch of water per week.  Though a bit needy, Roses are WELL worth the trouble and really make you stop and stare. There are even varieties available now that need far less care, like the Knock Out Rose series.

Many different growing habits, bright prolonged color and deeply pleasing foliage make Roses one of the best perennial shrubs around.  Read more about them here, a great beginners guide to Rose care!  As always contact us here at Eagleson Landscape Co. with any landscape related questions!  We love hearing from you and are always happy to help!