Get your roses in tip top shape with Wallitsch Gardens

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Roses are so elegant and classy, but every rose has its thorn and sometimes caring for them can be a real pain.

“Kind of like a newborn baby, where you have to constantly take care of it,” said Jeff Wallitsch, of Wallitsch Gardens.

He offers these tips to keep your roses in tip top shape:

If you’re just starting out, get Knock Out Roses. They’re easier to care for and have smaller continuous blooms.
Carpet Roses are also considered more low maintenance.
Grafted rose trees are considered more high maintenance and will need more care and attention.
All roses need good drainage.
Black spot is a common problem and occurs when it’s wet and humid. So make sure to water in the morning and only at the base of the plant.
You need to cut off the dead flowers.
If your roses start to die, you can chop it all the way down to the ground and it will come right back.
Roses need to be fertilized on a weekly basis.
Fertilizer has a series of a three numbers printed on it. The middle number represents phosphorus so you want to choose a fertilizer with a high middle number to promote more flowers.
Insects like Japanese Beetles are attracted to roses. It's recommended to use a three-in-one systemic product that will be soaked up through the roots and into the whole plant.

“So then this chemical will be inside the leaves or the stem. So when the insect bites. It will kill them,” Wallitsch said.