Rose Care Year Round
March through April
As early as weather permits. Plant dormant roses. Prepare soil and plant in accordance with directions. Be sure to mound earth high up into stems as directed.
March 15 to April 1
Remove winter protection if used. Prune roses, except climbers. Start spray program for blackspot and pest control. Spray when temperature is above 40 degrees. Remove earth mounds as soon as weather permits after severe freezing. Cut winter injured stems back to live wood. Remove weak or damaged canes. Cut good canes back to 12 to 18”.
Spray very thoroughly - Using Phaltan and a complete Rose Spray
April
When soil permits, cultivate surface of rose bed or area at base of plant. Loosen surface of soil, but do not disturb roots. Work fertilizer and left over peat mulch into soil.
April 1 to May 1
As soon as leaves are 1/2” long, continue preventive spraying or dusting schedule each week or 10 days, and after each rain until cold weather. Use a complete Rose Spray or Dust in accordance with directions. Cover upper and lower side of foliage thoroughly.
April 15 to May 1
Mulch Roses (Optional) Add 2” layer of mulch, such as: Peat, Humus, Buckwheat Hulls, Cocoa Bean Hulls or other to surface of rose bed. If mulch is not applied, keep surface of bed cultivated to conserve moisture.
May - June
Plant potted roses in prepared bed. Remove pot, water thoroughly, do not mound.
May 20 – (all season)
Remove spent bloom, cut off any mature blooms before petals fall. Cut stem just above first or second multi-leaflet leaf below bloom which points toward outside of plant. Water beds thoroughly once each week during dry spell. Allow water to run slowly and soak in deeply. Cultivate if mulch is not applied, keep surface of bed loosened up to conserve moisture and eliminate weeds.
May 1 – June 1
After first bloom, do not feed after August 10. Repeat fertilizer application. Add 1/2 cup or 1/4 lb. rose fertilizer to bed or soil area around each rose and cultivate lightly into soil. Water thoroughly. All season reminder to spray or dust. Irrigat and remove spent bloom. Continue program outlined above faithfully. If you see blackspot, it has progressed to a serious point and extra applications of Phaltoan are indicated.
July
Prune June blooming climbers, remove canes on which bloom was produced that June. Preserve the new young shoots. Remember—Climbers bloom on the previous year’s canes.
September
Late September after fall bloom or in early spring, prune ever blooming climbers. Remove only old rough, dark wooded canes that are very twiggy. Do not remove any one or two year old canes. Do not cut back severely.
September and October
Prepare beds for fall planting. Spade in peat or other humus and fertilize 15 to 18” deep. Mix approximately 4” of peat or humus with 4 lbs. Of fertilizer per 100 sq. ft. of bed and mix all thoroughly, about a month before planting to allow the soil to settle.
October 15 or Later
After heavy frost, fertilize all established roses. (Roses that have been in garden one full season). Apply evening, 1/2 cup or 1/4 lb. Rose Fertilizer to soil area at base of each rose. Cultivate into upper 2” of soil and water in.
November
Plant fall roses after heavy frost. Follow directions. Mound over tops of roses with at least a 10” mound of earth.
November 25 to December 10
Prepare for winter. Cut bush type roses back to 2 1/2 to 3’ to reduce winter breakage. Clean up fallen leaves and blooms. If roses were neglected or if location is very cold or exposed, mound earth about 10” in stems of rose for protection.