What do I need to do to keep my Rose bushes looking great this summer?

My Rose bushes are so green and pretty right now, but during the summer I have a problem with black spots and I can't keep them blooming all summer. How much water does Rose Bushes require and what's the best thing to put on them?

What do I need to do to keep my Rose bushes looking great this summer?
Spring Rose Care


Step 1:


Prune roses in early spring once the rose starts to show signs of new growth, usually in the form of tiny red buds swelling. These buds will become new branches.





Step 2:


Cut out any obviously dead or damaged branches first. Then cut out all but four or five healthy stems, each ideally about as thick as a pencil.





Step 3:


Cut the rose bush back by 1/3 to 1/2, depending on how tall you want it to be. Make these cuts right above an outward facing bud - that is, a red bud that's on the outside of the rose bush. This directs the bud to grow up and out, leaving the center of the rose bush open for a prettier shape and better air circulation.





Step 4:


Fertilize roses regularly during the growing season. Roses are hungry plants, demanding lots of nutrients for best growth and flowering. Each rose grower has his or her own favorite method. One of the easiest is to buy a slow-release granular rose food and work it into the soil so it can feed the plant all season long. Otherwise, you'll want to fertilize the rose with a liquid fertilizer every three to four weeks during the growing season (stop in early autumn) or according to package directions.





Step 5:


Water diligently. Roses need a steady source of water during the growing season, about 1 inch a week from rain or watering. In arid regions of the country, if you have several roses, consider installing a do-it-yourself drip irrigation system.





Summer Rose Care


Step 1:


Mulch. Roses need less weeding and watering and have fewer diseases if you mulch. Lay down 1 to 2 inches of organic mulch, such as wood chips, pine needles, grass clippings or other biodegradable material.





Step 2:


Deadhead. This simply means trimming spent roses off the shrub to encourage it to produce more. While some roses bloom only in one big flush in June, others are bred to keep producing off and on all season long.





Step 3:


Spray. If your rose becomes diseased or has an insect infestation, you may want to deal with it by spraying. (However, first try simply trimming off the diseased portion of the plant and giving the plant a good strong blast from a hose.) If you choose to spray, first identify the problem by trimming off the diseased part and taking it to a reliable garden center, where the staff can prescribe the correct pesticide or herbicide.





Fall and Winter Rose Care


Step 1:


Stop fertilizing roses in early autumn, at least one month before your region's first annual frost date. Fertilizing too long into autumn encourages roses to produce tender new growth that will get nipped by cold.





Step 2:


Protect roses as needed in late autumn, after your region's first hard freeze. In regions where temperatures don't fall below 20 degrees F (USDA zone 9 and warmer), no additional winter protection is needed. In cooler regions where temperatures don't fall below 10 degrees below zero (zones 6 to 8), a simple mounding of several inches of soil over the base of the rose should suffice. In cold-winter regions where temperatures get colder than 10 degrees below zero (zone 5 and colder), mound to about a foot about a month after your region's last average frost date; additionally, two weeks later, the entire plant should be wrapped in burlap to protect the upper parts.
Reply:I live where it gets really hot during the Summer.I saturate the soil once weekly.I also keep all those little filler stems that grow thinned out.Cut the flower off when it dies off.That encourages growth...The black is signs of too much water.Leaves should stay thinned to encourage air flow..Hope this helps.
Reply:The best thing for rose bushes is a systemic fertilizer (granules you sprinkle around the base of the plant). This not only feeds the plant, but it makes the leaves toxic to bugs, like aphids.





Black spots or rusty-looking spots are caused by fungus. You might also get a white powdery mildew on the foliage. This is often the result of watering the bushes and getting the foliage wet. Left untreated, any of these conditions can kill the plant. Ironically, you can use a spray of water to remove the powdery mildew. Then use a spray-on fungicide for controlling any of those diseases.





The indication of overwatering roses is leaf yellowing and drop. How much you water depends on the location of the plant (as far as sun and heat are concerned), how easily the soil drains, whether they're in raised beds, etc. I found that the best way to water roses was to let the top inch or two of soil get completely dry and then soak the plants well using a soaker hose. During the summer, this would come out to about once a week or 5 days.





The best way to get the biggest, most colorful blooms is correct pruning between blooms. When a rose blooms and then dies, cut the stem back to just above the base of the first leaf down the stem that has at least 5 leaflets (rose leaves generally have 3, 5, or 7 leaflets). The bud on the inside base of the leaf will form the next stem for a bloom. Also, if you have any growth coming up from the roots themselves (rising up out of the dirt), these should be removed. It's the "wild" of the plant and it just robs the rest of the plant from getting proper nutrients.
Reply:loads of good advice given - one tip, try planting garlic bulbs and marigolds around the base, helps to keep unwanted pests such as greenfly etc (bio pest control)
Reply:i have always used fish emulsion and blood meal on my roses and have always had beautiful roses give it a try
Reply:don't over water them, and try to keep them where they can


get good sunlight and airflow,i find my roses get black spot


when it gets humid, when i find aphids on them, i mix a bit


of liquid detergent with water in a spray bottle then spray


them every few days (til the aphids are gone), roses also


respond well to a harsh pruning when its time to cut them


back, my father resentfully pruned mums' roses one year


with a chainsaw! he almost cut them to the ground, the next year


they bloomed beautifully, i have found that if the year has been dry, they are usually almost perfect when they bloom
Reply:Roses need air flow and sun. Water at the base, not from overhead. Spray with Immunox to keep the black spot and aphids away. Feed at least every two weeks.





I moved mine to raised planters in the middle of my yard a year ago, instead of being on the south end of the house. I was astounded at what the difference in having the air flow made. I hardly had to spray them at all to keep the black spot down, two or three times for the whole summer. The grew and bloomed amazingly well.