A friend from church, who loves his roses and has fond memories of his family’s rose garden, was disappointed with how they grew this year and asked me for advice.
A few years ago, following my hip surgery I had a therapist to help me get back on my feet. She was likewise disappointed with the way her roses performed. She was so frustrated with her roses that she was ready to pull them all out of her landscape as a palace coup.
Both wanted to know more about fertilizing and pruning at this time of year.
You need to choose whether to keep your roses or replace them. Replacing plants now can be costly. I think if you find out what your roses need and give it to them, you can save them.
I told my therapist to be patient so we could make a plan. I’ve talked for years about how important it is to test your soil. You can get soil test kits online, at garden shops, or at Walmart.
A soil test shows which nutrients are in your soil. Without it, you won’t know how much fertilizer to use. If your soil has too much of some nutrients or the pH is wrong, your roses might not get what they need.
Before you start fertilizing, there are a few important things to know. The last day to fertilize roses is July 31. This is because you don’t want new growth that could be damaged by frost.
Stop fertilizing to give stems and buds time to harden sufficiently for winter dormancy. You should fertilize roses from March through July. From early June to the end of July, add a light layer of compost or fertilizer to each rose.
Different types of roses, like Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, Shrub, Knock-outs, and Species Roses, need different amounts of nutrients.
Climbers and Ramblers need more fertilizer because they grow quickly. If my friends had asked me in March, we could have talked about the age of the rose and our goals.
Before fertilizing, check where your roses are planted. Roses have high standards. They need full sun, which means at least six hours of sunlight each day during the growing season.
Roses should also wait to be fertilized for the first time after planting for three to four weeks after which their roots will have had a chance to grow. Because they use a lot of nutrients, they grow best in rich, organic, moist, and well-drained soil.
You can plant roses in containers from late October to late March, and you can plant bare- root roses any time of year.
As with any queen, a perfect coiffure is essential. Formative pruning encourages strong development in a multi-stemmed plant, with strong shoots forming close to the ground to create a balanced framework and encourage flowers.
Remove damaged or broken shoots and cut back any shoots growing across the center of the bush. Prune strong, healthy shoots back to within three to six inches of the ground, cutting to an outward-facing bud.
Proper pruning also encourages good flower development at the right time of year. Prune your roses in late winter or early spring.
More mature rose shrubs need pruning that should focus on making the center of the plant open so air can move around the branches. This shifting from shoot production to an open centered plant structure helps prevent disease.
Most challenges that roses face is caused by poor air-circulation which foliage dense plants can create. Roses need this kind of pruning every year, which is important for getting good flowers and a healthy plant.
Roses need a lot of nutrients, so you’ll need to feed them more often than you might expect. Each nutrient helps in its own way. In March or April, before the leaves appear, put a ring of rose food around each plant and mix it into the soil. Do the same in June.
From April to July, use a liquid fertilizer once a month. Hose applicators work great for this.
If you want really impressive roses, spray a lighter mix of the same fertilizer directly on the leaves. This helps the blooms grow better. Using organic fertilizers regularly will also help your roses thrive.
Roses, like queens, need special attention. In October, clear away any plant debris around your roses and cover them with a good layer of mulch. If you take care of them, your roses will reward you in wonderful ways.
Roses are one of my favorite topics. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at ericlarson546@yahoo.com