| Roses thrive in well-dug and amended soil, rich with organic matter. Dig a good-size hole, 18 inches deep and 2- to 3-feet in area, add a mix of aged manure, compost, leaf mold. One cup of bone meal sprinkled into hole at planting time, and then again each year gently dug in spring around the drip line will stand your rose well. Be sure to tamp down soil around rose firmly. Mulch around rose base after planting with any of the above to conserve moisture, keep soil rich and reduce weeds. Water in well. The quality and quantity of your blooms has much to do with the care you lavish on your rose. Alfalfa pellets, a source of nitrogen, scattered in early spring around each bush build up green plant structure. If time permits, these extra feedings boost your rose. On the other hand, most of the roses recommended here are tough and will thrive with a modicum of care. Cecile Brunner is relatively care-free in the garden. While occasionally prone to black spot, early detection and handpicking of infected leaves restores the bush to good health. Hope this information addresses your concerns about Cecil Brunner roses. |
