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Rose Report August Tasks
What needs to be done in the rose garden in August? Water, preventive spraying, final fertilization, and deadheading.
Our roses are in the midst of the challenges of a hot, dry summer. If they are managed well during this time, they will reward us with a beautiful fall bloom cycle.
Water is the most important need for the roses during the hot, dry months. A minimum of one inch of water a week is needed. In hot, windy conditions even more is needed. Water deeply, the soil should be moist six to eight inches deep after watering. Hand watering with a waterwand or watering with a drip system are preferred to overhead watering.
Be on the lookout for blackspot. It may be worse in the fall than in the spring. A preventive spraying program should be continued on a regular 10- to 14-day schedule if your roses are susceptible. Spraying for insect pests should be only as needed. Most of the time pest damage is only aesthetic and does not require chemical control.
The last fertilization of the season, if desired, should be no later than mid-August. Fertilization promotes growth, so fertilization any later in the season interferes with the need for the roses to ready themselves for winter.
Continue removing spent blooms, deadheading, to encourage reblooming in the fall. Side buds may be removed from around new flower buds, so the flowers are bigger.
Why do some canes have holes in them? Several different wasps and bees lay eggs in the pith of cut rose canes. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae bore a hole down the middle of the pith to make their nests. The larvae are active for about two weeks before going dormant and then emerging as an adult. The damaged rose canes will die. Any canes with borer damage should be cut below the borer hole. To prevent cane borers, all pruning cuts and deadheading cuts should be sealed with water resistant or water proof carpenters glue or finger nail polish.
More information about rose care can be found by clicking on the Rose Info tab on our webpage kansascityrosesociety.org. Send rose care questions to kcrosehelp@gmail.com.
