In the upcoming Beauty and the Beast live-action film, Beast is in a race against time to gain the love of Belle before his enchanted rose finishes wilting. Most of us are not in the habit of keeping enchanted roses like Beast. However, many of us may have equally beautiful (albeit less sparkly) roses in our garden. Since you canâ€™t protect your roses from under a glass covering like Beast, you might be using common gardening practices which include harmful pesticides and synthetic chemicals. Thankfully, modern organic gardening trends provide options for rose maintenance using ordinary household items and a little know-how.
Create compost at home with everyday items. Use litter from your backyard, such as fallen leaves and grass clippings, which clears messy waste while supplying necessary nutrients to your plants. Household leftovers such as vegetable scraps and coffee grounds also make great compost. Composting can be easy and save you money.
Make a natural pesticide using pungent vegetables in the onion family â€“ such as garlic, chives, or oregano â€“ to keep pesky bugs away. Steep fresh onion and garlic bulbs in water overnight then spray your roses in the morning for a pest-free garden.
Plant flowers such as marigolds and petunias to keep nematodes (a destructive worm) at bay. Introduce these charming flowers to your rose garden to prevent pests and create a more colorful display.
Pruning often and correctly
Prune invasive branches to control crowding your roses. This allows for fuller blooms all season. Also, cut dead and dying leaves often to extend the life of your roses.
Planting local rose varieties
Shop for local roses to ensure they will thrive in your climate. Know your roseâ€™s sunlight needs to avoid burning plants in the scorching afternoon sun. If you get a winter chill, invest in hardy roses that can survive the colder months.
These tips along with responsible watering habits will help you transition to a greener garden and save money. When switching to sustainable practices, you should accept your garden will suffer from the occasional blackspot. After all, even Beastâ€™s enchanted rose began to wilt.