What To Do with Rose Petals

When you have a rose garden, you will enjoy the benefits of beautiful flowers for a few months or more every year. But you will also experience a plethora of rose petals falling after each flower has fully bloomed. Once the roses deteriorate, do you know what to do with rose petals?

It seems like a waste to rake up rose petals and add them to your compost. After all, they have a wonderful fragrance and can be dried for lasting results. Some places even sell rose petals. If you ever wondered what to do with rose petals after they died, here are some ideas.

Elements of a Rose Petal

You may be surprised that the petals have much more to offer after the rose deteriorates. Rose petals are edible, fragrant, colorful and full of nutrients. These different elements can be used from everything from creating delicious dishes and skin care to decorating and air treatments.

There are over 100 different species of roses, each with different fragrances, shapes and colors. The best roses for petal projects are those that grow wild or in your garden. They tend to have more of the elements that are desired than those grown for commercial purposes.

Rose petals are very delicate, but they can last for months, even years, when dried. Fresh petals are the best for creating edible foods or beverages, but once dried, they can be used for many other projects. Once your roses begin shedding their petals, gather them up and begin using them around your home.

What to Do with Fresh Rose Petals

When your roses first shed their petals, gather them up and begin using them while fresh. While you will want to dry some for other uses, fresh petals have many benefits. For edible options and some skin products, you will want to have fresh petals that still are soft.

Rose petals used for skin or edible options should be free from chemicals – you do not want to use petals that have insecticide. They should also be properly cleaned before use. You can store fresh petals in a sealed plastic bag or container in your refrigerator to be used within a few days.

Fresh Salads

Yes, you can and should eat rose petals! They are high in antioxidants and a great addition to fruit or vegetable salads. Not only are they good for you, but they add a beautiful pop of color to your salads. Mix them in with greens, strawberries, melons and other healthy produce.

Rose-Infused Beverages

Rose water is common but rose petals can be added to many different beverages. Hot tea with rose infusion has a wonderful scent and flavor; rose petals can also be used with iced tea or lemonade. There are even alcoholic drinks with roses, including rose liqueurs.

Rose Jams

Enjoy your rose petals sweetened and spread over toast or an English muffin. Rose jams and jellies are among the most popular options for edible rose products. There are many different flavor combinations to use for these condiments, all with the unmistakable scent of roses.

Rose Skin Products

Fresh petals are wonderful for creating rose water, vinegar or oils to be used on your skin. The nutrients from the roses can refresh your skin while adding a wonderful scent. Rose skin products can be used for medical uses – rose water or vinegar can help with burns, bug bites and other skin issues.

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What to Do with Dried Rose Petals

For longer lasting rose petals with even more uses, they need to be dried. You should clean your petals and drain them, then lay them in a single layer on a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Bake petals at 200-degrees until they are crisp and crumble. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Dried rose petals can last for months, even years. They retain their fragrance for a long time and can be used in various ways. If you want to know what to do with dried rose petals, here are some ideas:

• Skin cleanser – mix powdered rose petals with honey
• Potpourri
• Rose-infused oils for lotions, soaps and skin care
• Tea
• Bath salts
• Arts and crafts
• Candles

There are so many uses for dried rose petals. There are many companies that charge a small fortune for dried roses, but you can grow your own and enjoy them all year round once the petals are dried. It is quick and inexpensive to make your own dried petals if you have a rose garden.

If you want to enjoy the benefits of using rose petals for food, beverages, skin care and much more, grow your own rose garden. To learn more about planting and caring for roses, talk to your local landscaper. You can enjoy the beauty of roses in your yard and find creative ways to use rose petals year-round.