Rose Report

it takes to fill. That amount of time is equivalent to an inch of water.) The goal is to get the water deep into the rose’s root system.

Make sure there is 2 to 4 inches of mulch on your beds. This will keep the rose bed consistently moist. Mulch can also keep the soil 10-15 degrees cooler as well as reducing weed growth.

Reduce stressors like: Water in the morning so leaves dry off before evening. Watering in the evening keeps leaves wet, resulting in a hospitable environment for disease.

Fertilize using the proper and the correct amount of fertilizer.

Locate roses where they will receive 6 hours of sun. Less than 6 hours of sun weakens the rose, making it scrawny and susceptible to disease. Placing roses in an area that gets afternoon shade is ideal, cooling them off from the oppressive summer sun.

Properly spaced roses allow air circulation around the roses. If roses are planted too close together, the lack of air circulation will keep leaves moist, creating a breeding ground for disease.

Remove diseased leaves, canes and weeds from rose beds. This goes a long way in keeping your roses healthy.

If you are going to spray roses for disease, water the day before, and apply the spray in the morning when temperatures are cooler and when beneficial insect activity is lower.

I will end with a quote. Do not watch the petals fall from the rose with sadness, know that like life, things sometimes must fade to bloom again. ~Anonymous

If you have questions, please contact our Ask a Rosarian hotline at kcrosehelp@gmail.com.