It can be tempting, when you go out to your garden and see those aphids and other pests ravaging your rosebushes to just spray them with some pesticides and be done with it. But there’s a better way that will result in a healthier, happier garden for everyone. Everyone except those pests, that is. Beneficial insects are great for keeping pests under control—and you can feel great about keeping your garden pesticide free too! Lady bugs are one of the most well-known insects a

What drives rose breeders to create new cultivars in a world so full of roses? A rose at the David Austin Rose Gardens in England. Photo by Hannah Major Roses have long been a favorite of botanists and gardeners and the plant’s history is a long and colorful one. Since their entry onto the botany scene, plant breeders all over the world have been captivated by them, creating new cultivars for colo

It’s spring. You’re just getting outside, taking in a deep breath of that fresh air. You’re looking at all your roses, and becoming excited for the growing season ahead. You can see buds full of the season’s promise beginning to swell as the roses wake up to the longer days and warmer temperature. They’re bursting with new life, along with everything around them. And to continue that abundance of new growth your roses will need nutrients to grow vigorously throughout the summ