In the rose garden

"IN THE ROSE GARDEN"

with Ed Bradley

A month-to-month guide to growing roses in South Texas)

Summer officially arrived on June 21. We don’t need to look at a calendar to know that, do we? It is hot and humid – just what we would expect. Summer is always a challenge here – for roses and rosarians alike. (Please read the article on page 3 with some precautions on “taking care of you” during this time.)

There are a few things we can do to reduce the stress on our roses under these hostile conditions. Let’s re-visit some:

Mulch: We talk about the need to use mulch and the benefits of using mulch almost every month. I won’t belabor the issue. As Nike says – “Just Do It !” If you don’t need a large quantity to justify buying in bulk, there are some excellent bagged products that are very convenient and affordable. Visit your favorite garden center and get some.

Organic Fertilizer: If you haven’t put down some organic fertilizer, it is not too late. We recommend a good application (1-2 cups per large bush) of an organic food such as Garden-Ville Rose Food, Rose-Glo, RoseTone, or other similar organic food. Organic products provide a slow, but steady supply of nutrients over an extended period as the components break down. This, in turn, produces a slow(er) but stronger growth, which will not stress the rose bush.

Slow-Release Fertilizer: This was also discussed in our June newsletter. Using the 3-4 month formula, spread 1-2 cups around the bush (miniatures get ½ - 1 cup), lightly work it into the soil and water good. You will continue to see the little pellets throughout the Summer, but each time you water, some of them will be dissolving and feeding your roses. Like the organics, this is a slow feeding which is good. This will be adequate feeding for your roses until about Labor Day, so you won’t need to be out in the heat, feeding your roses.

Water: We will need to be very wise in our use of water this Summer. There is a huge difference in using water and wasting water. Thus, we need to be extremely wise in the way we use this precious resource. Wasting water is watering too much, or too little, or at the wrong time of day. Obviously, we don’t want to water too much; however, we do need to water deeply so that the roots will go down where the moisture is, rather than remain shallow and dry out. You can actually water too little, and that is wasteful. When you do a “once over lightly”, you are only wetting the surface or foliage. This only helps shallow rooted plants, such as grass and weeds. In my opinion, the best time to water is in the early morning hours. That way, the roses have the moisture available throughout the day to help reduce stress. At the end of a very hot day, the roses may look “wilted”, but they will recover during the evening because transpiration ceases at night. If you cannot water during the early morning, water in the very late afternoon or early evening. Under normal growing conditions (heavy mulch, good soil, etc.), roses should remain healthy with one-inch of water per week.

Disease and Insect Free Garden: It should be obvious that a healthy plant, free of disease and insect damage, will be better able to withstand stress from external environmental conditions. Green and healthy leaves means the plant will be able to convert water and nutrients into plant food. Insects are not a severe problem during the Summer; diseases such as blackspot and mildew will also subside during the hot Summer months. However, you need to be vigilant and take care of any problems that arise. Remember – for fungus/disease, prevention is the key.

The one exception you need to be concerned about in the Summer is the dreaded spider mite. Spider mites reproduce at an unbelievable rate in hot weather, and a severe infestation can and will defoliate your rose bush in a matter of days. Bare stems will die, until the entire bush is gone. Prevent spider mites with a regular spraying of liquid seaweed and agricultural molasses (1 tablespoon each per gallon of water), or regularly water-wash with high pressure water spray on the underside of leaves. If this fails, spray with Avid, Floramite, or Red Spider Spray (Green Light).

Bush Grooming: It is important to continue removing old blooms, yellow leaves, and blind shoots during the hot Summer months. During the stressful months, we actually want the rose bush to go semi-dormant; that is, slow down growth and reduce that vigorous growth we had in the Spring-time, which demands more water. Therefore, when removing the old blooms, don’t cut as deeply as you would at other, less-stressful times. Remove any dead or dying canes. Keep the center of the bush open for good air circulation. Through any physical means, make the bush as healthy as it can be.

If you have any questions regarding the above information, please call one of our Consulting Rosarians, or visit your favorite full-service nursery and browse their product shelves.

Disclaimer: While the advice and information contained in this web page is believed to be true and correct, neither the authors nor committee members can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The San Antonio Rose Society makes no warranty, expressed or implied with respect to the material contained herein.