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January
There is not too much than can be done to care
for your roses in this month. However, it may still be a good time to buy and
plant a few bare-root roses. They are much cheaper than container grown roses,
and you can make sure that they have a good root system! Use plenty of good
compost in the planting hole - with a handful of bonemeal, which will break
down in the soil over several months and provide the rose with a good start in
life.
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February
Who knows what this month is going to be like
by way of climate? If it is suitable, you can still plant bare root
roses. Towards the end of the month - if it is mild enough - you can
start
pruning your Floribunda type roses in milder districts.
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March
Now we get into the proper gardening season -
certainly as far as rose care is concerned. If you have any gaps to fill, then
this is really your last chance to plant bare root - or pre-packed roses.
(Make sure that they haven't got long new stems shooting out all over the
place).
Pruning of all bush
roses and standards can now take place. Prune the standards in just the
same way as you would prune a bush rose. Burn all the debris left over from
pruning - Don't bother composting it. There is bound some traces of pests or
diseases that have over-wintered on the stems.
March is the time to start feeding your roses -
either with a branded rose fertilizer, or with an Osmocote type of long
lasting granules. Make sure that the fertilizer is spread right around the
root zone of the bushes - not just near the stem (There are no feeding roots
in this area!)
After this feed, a good
mulch of organic matter can be spread around the rose. This is
particularly important in dry soils. The root zone must be kept moist. In
particular, make sure that Climbers and ramblers growing on walls receive this
care. The added moisture at the root zone will certainly help stave off a
serious mildew attack later on in the year.
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April
Anything that wasn't done in March by way of
caring for your roses must be done now!
You will need to keep an eye out for greenfly
starting this month if previous years are anything to go by! Spray all roses
with a systemic action rose insecticide such as Permethrin. We are assuming
that you have already applied a Rose fertilizer. If not then do it now!
Keep weeds at bay. You can use a paraquat
weedkiller (Weedol) providing you do not get the spray on the new growths.
This type of weedkiller can be sprayed right up to the rose main stem without
damaging the rose bush.
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May
Your roses should be growing quite well now.
You may need to do a bit of tying in for your ramblers and climbers before
they get too much out of control. Greenfly and other aphids are most certain
to put in an appearance in this month, so keep on top of them with an
insecticide. You can also start using a combined spray such as Multi-rose.
This is a combines insecticide and fungicide that will help to control mildew,
blackspot, aphids and other bugs and also rust. All in one spray.
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June
This is the month when all your caring for your
roses really pays dividends as they start to bloom. Most bush roses, climbers
and ramblers will be at least showing plenty of flower buds if not fully
flowering now. Continue to look beyond the flower - at the foliage and stems -
to make sure that pests and diseases are not lurking or starting to take hold.
Keep the roses well watered - especially the ones growing near walls!
If feeding is necessary, then a liquid tomato
feed will be the best for the rose bush now needs that type of formulation for
healthy flowers etc.
Some Ramblers and climbers will be flowering in
this month -
Prune as required after flowering has finished. This also goes for weeping
standards.
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July
Flowering should now be at maximum. Ensure that
you keep your roses flowering for as long as possible by dead-heading all
faded blooms clusters. Do not just snip off the faded rose flower bud, but cut
back the stem to 2 or 3 leaved below the faded flower truss. This will then
ensure that new shoots emerge and a succession of flowers is forthcoming
through the rest of summer.
Blackspot usually puts in an appearance in this
month, so be ready to deal with it by way of removing all affected leaves at
first sign. Burn them. Spray the bush with a fungicide - not in full sunshine!
Mildew may also start in this month.
Treat as per this
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August
This is generally a time for simply enjoying
your roses - especially if you have deadheaded earlier flowers!
No need to do any feeding now, but do keep a
watch out for mildew and
treat as described. Carry on the work against blackspot if needed and if
you did not get round to using systemic insecticides earlier, then watch out
still for greenfly and other pests.
Caring for your roses also means keeping your
roses well watered!
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September
If you have been caring for your roses as in
all the above, you should still have the benefit of masses of flowers on your
rose bushes. Keep dead-heading to ensure even later flushes of flower. Rose
care still needs to be carried out.
All summer flowering ramblers and climbers -
together with weeping standard roses should have been pruned by now. If not,
then do so!
It may still be necessary to spray against
blackspot and mildew - weekly for best results!
No feeding of roses now.
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October
Just keep things tidy - rake up fallen leaves
as they appear - BURN THEM! If you have carried out a good care programme for
your roses then there will still be a few blooms around - unless frosts have
started. Simply enjoy them. Now you can just snip off the faded flowers rather
than cutting back the stems as described in July, for it will be too late for
new flushes of growth to grow.
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November
If the weather is poor, then it will be a good
idea to cut your rose bush stems back by around one third in order to prevent
wind rock damage to the root system.
In very cold districts, it would be a good idea
to either mulch around the root zone with a few inches of straw, or earth up
the area with a few inches of soil (To be removed in the spring).
Make sure that standard roses are well
supported for the winter winds. If necessary, tie the heads in to the stake to
prevent wind damage.
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December
Enjoy your Christmas shopping! Forget about
your roses (It doesn't mean that you have stopped caring) - or any other aspect of outdoor gardening for that matter. You
will probably do more harm than good by messing about in the garden during
this month.
