Rose Care

• When buying a container-grown rose plant, examine the foliage and canes carefully. The plant should be healthy and vigorous looking.
• Roses perform best when they receive full sun for 6-8 or more hours per day from spring through the fall. There should be air movement through the foliage to keep it dry and discourage mildew diseases. Plant away from large trees or shrubs that may compete for nutrients and water.
• Roses do well in a wide range of soils but need good drainage. If your soil has drainage problems you might consider raised beds or other means of altering the drainage pattern.
• The frequency and amount of watering depends on soil type, growth stage of the roses and weather conditions. Normally, a rose should receive one-inch of water per week. Water deeply, soaking the soil to a depth of 16-18 inches. Frequent, light applications of water result in shallow-rooted plants that are subject to injury from cultivation or fertilizer burns and require more frequent waterings.
• For proper rose pruning, remove nonproductive and dead or damaged wood and leave a few good canes as the foundation of a healthy bush. Pruning allows you to shape the bush and maintain a desirable size. Ideally, the bush will have a vase shape, open in the center.
• When roses begin to flower, prune off old blossoms down the stem to the first five-leaf formation. This will encourage continued blooming throughout the season.
• Directly after pruning apply Epsom salts (1-2 tablespoons per plant). This helps to promote new cane growth. A complete fertilizer and systemic insecticide also may be added.
• When roses start to bloom, fertilize again with an all-purpose fertilizer or a rose food, plus systemic insecticide, which will help prevent insects. Fertilize once more in early August, but not after mid-August, to allow time for the roses to harden off for the winter.

by Bill Varga - Utah State University Extension Horticulturist