Maintaining your Roses in the Summer

Summer can be an extremely difficult time for your roses. In fact, many new rose growers often despair during the summer when their roses fail to thrive. This can be especially true if you live in the Southwest, where the heat can really make it difficult for your roses to do their best. In order for your roses to achieve their full potential during the summer, it is important to follow a few basic guidelines.

First, make sure you are watering your roses enough during the summer; especially if you live in a hot, dry climate. The amount of water you need to provide your roses will actually depend on your local weather and the type of soil you have. Generally, a deep soaking about twice a month will be fine. Make sure you are soaking your roses to a depth of about ten inches. Try to avoid watering the foliage itself as this can lead to problems with disease. Instead, apply the water to the soil around the rose. Application of a mulch around your roses will help them to preserve their moisture as well as keep weeds under control. Good options for mulch include pine needles, shredded bark and wood chips. About two or three inches of mulch spread around the base of your rose will work fine.

Your roses will also need to be fertilized about three times per year in order to achieve their best during the summer. Begin fertilizing in the early spring after you have pruned your roses. The next application should be done when your roses have begun their first blooming, followed up with the third and final application in mid-July. Fertilizing any later than this can cause your roses to have new growth which may not be able to mature enough to make it through winter. Make sure you give your roses a good watering after every fertilizer application.

Stay on guard for disease and insects, which can really harm your roses. A spray should be used during the summer to keep these under control. Many garden stores sell a combination spray that will work well for controlling both disease and insects.

Finally, make sure you remove rose blooms after they have already become spent. This will promote new blooms on your roses. Always make sure you utilize either a knife or hand shears to remove flowers that have become spent and cut at an angle.

 
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