Pink Traviata Rose

Growing Requirements

• Pink traviatas need full sun and well-draining, acidic soil to flourish. A soil pH test kit will let you know if your soil is suitable for growing roses. Digging peat moss into the soil provides organic matter and makes it more acidic. Digging compost or aged manure into the soil prior to planting will add nutrients, improve drainage and enrich the soil. Roses need good air circulation to prevent mildew, so the rose bushes should be spaced at least 3 feet from other shrubs.

Planting

• Pink traviatas are often sold as bare-root roses, which require eight to 24 hours of soaking before they are planted. Prepare a hole twice as wide and the same depth as the root ball. Mix equal parts compost and 1 cup of sulfur with the soil if you have not previously amended the soil or adjusted the pH. Mound the mixed dirt in the center of the hole so the crown of the rosebush will sit about 2 inches above the soil line. Spread the roots over the mounded soil and fill in the hole. Prune canes back to about 10 inches above the soil surface.

Care

• Water your rosebush daily the first week after planting. Water in the mornings and at the roots rather than overhead to help prevent mildew. In the summer, you may need to water about four times a week, reducing that to twice a week in the spring and fall. Water to a depth of about 2 feet, and keep soil moist but not wet. A 4-inch layer of organic mulch will help keep soil moist. Use a slow-release rose fertilizer every two months during the growing season.

Maintenance

• Remove dead leaves from around the base of the plant and from the plant as you see them to reduce the chance of disease. To keep the roses healthy, prune each spring and fall to remove dead and under-producing canes. Choose a few canes to remove from the center of the bush to increase air circulation. Cut canes back in the spring to remove about half of the previous-year's growth. Mound about 12 inches of soil over the base of the plant after the first freeze. Cover the mound with a layer of mulch. This protects the roses from winter damage until spring.

Pests

• Watch for pests on your pink traviata from spring through fall. A weekly pressurized spray of water applied to the leaves will help dislodge pests such as mites and aphids. Cleaning up debris from the rosebush and removing any diseased canes or leaves as you see them discourages pest infestations. If you have problems with aphids, mites or fungal infections, a preventative spray of the correct insecticide or fungicide may be necessary during the growing season.