(NAPSA)—There’s just something about roses that captures the imagination. According to the California Cut Flowers Commission, Americans buy more than a billion stems of roses annually. And millions grow roses in their gardens. Roses have been around for a long time. Confucius had a 600book library on rose care. George Washington wasthe first person known to breed roses in the United States. Now there’s a rose named after Ronald Reagan. Roses are easy to buy but, historically, they have had a reputation for being difficult to grow. Diseases such as Black Spot, Powdery Mildew and Rust can discolor, deform and even cause roses to lose their leaves. Aphids, beetles and thrips like to eat roses for breakfast, lunch and dinner. “Some beginning gardeners are downright scared to grow roses,” says Garden Expert Lance Wal- heim, who wrote the book “Roses for Dummies” and whois a regular contributor to Sunset magazine. “But these days, growing roses is easier than ever.” Walheim says, start with the basics: Choose well-adapted varieties for your area. A homecenter, garden shoporlocal chapter of the American Rose Society can steer you in the right direction. Plant in full sun and in well- drained soil. Water during dry spells. Prune properly by removing dead, weak or decayed growth, Plant roses in full sun and welldrainedsoil. cutting back main canes, keeping the center of the rose bush open and removing crossing branches. Fertilize regularly and protect against diseases and pests. Bayer Advanced™ All-in-One Rose and Flower Care fertilizes while it prevents common diseases and insects for six weekslonger than any competitive product on the market. The disease-control ingredient prevents Black Spot, Powdery Mildew, Rust and other fungal diseases. The insect-control ingredient prevents aphids, Japanese beetles, thrips, whiteflies and other insects from damaging or destroying your roses. Thefertilizer keeps the blooms and leaves looking beautiful. There’s no spraying. Just mix into a watering can and pour at the base of the rose bush. All Bayer Advanced products carry a money-back guarantee. For more information, visit www.bayeradvanced.com or call 1-877-BAYERAG.
