Some perennials are easy to transplant. Mums, for example, can be moved from one place to another with no noticeable effect. This is yet another way to keep color and blooms in your flower garden throughout growing season.

When your perennials do die down, remove and compost dead and dying foliage and flowers. If planting is large enough and accessible, some gardeners will simply mow over spent flowers.

Perennials, either by themselves or mixed with annuals and other plants, can be placed along a path, or as a border against a background of trees, shrubs, a wall or fence. Such a background shows flowers to best advantage. When planning such a border or planting along a path, care should be taken to consider ultimate height of plant, it's season of bloom, color of flower, and its hardiness and preference for sun or shade, type of soil and amount of water.

6. Mulch, mulch, mulch! Mulching can reduce stress on your rose in several ways. It helps to hold in moisture which can be very good in a hot, dry climate. It helps maintain a more even temperature in root zone. And mulch can smother weeds that could be competition for your lovely roses. As mulch decomposes, it adds more nutrients to soil around your plant. Lastly, it can cut down on some of your work. ;-)

7. Roses are, what could be considered, heavy feeders. They respond well to fertilizer and should be fertilized on a consistent schedule. Most organic fertilizers are slow-acting and may produce less spectacular results of a non-organic fertilizer. Some organic fertilizers to consider are composted manure, fish emulsion, alfalfa meal, blood meal, and cottonseed meal. If you wish to have a truly organic rose garden, you should ensure that your fertilizer is also organic. Of all these only one you can be sure is truly organic would be your composted manure if you know exactly where it comes from and how animals are raised. Perhaps you should consider your own animals raised organically. Chicken manure is very high in nitrogen and some localities allow a small backyard flock. Make sure it is composted thoroughly as chicken manure is very "hot" and will burn your plants.

8. Prune your roses in early spring. To keep your roses healthy, get out dead wood, damaged wood and anything that starts to look diseased (and don't compost these trimmings). Thin out your plant to keep it from being crowded. Don't allow branches to rub against each other. This will allow air and sunlight to get to whole plant keeping it healthier.

In part 2 later this week, we will discuss some organic methods of combating specific diseases and pests.