Even though the calendar year is just beginning, most of the work is done for the rose-growing year.

1. Cut back tall canes to chest height so the winter winds will not blow them back and forth and loosen their roots.

2. Keep up your spray schedule however until one or two heavy freezes. Blackspot can still occur.

3. Check the pH of your beds (a full soil analysis is a good idea at this time). If the pH is low, this is a good time to add lime as this takes several months to work. Then you will be in good shape when you start gardening again in the spring.

4. Evaluate your roses. Who did well and who did poorly? Could you replace the poor ones in the spring? If so, request the most recent catalogs and place your orders early so you can get what you want if they are not sold out.

Good gardening!!

This is the start of the new season! You have been resting for 2 months and it is time to get busy. KEEP A CALENDAR of what you do and when you do it and complete the following tasks by the end of this month.

1. Prune starting about February 20 and have this done by March 15.

2. Clean out the beds of any weeds, old rose leaves, and debris. You do NOT have to remove all the old mulch.

3. Spray the canes and ground around the roses with your first spray of the season. Use a contact fungicide like Mancozeb and a systemic fungicide like Honor Guard mixed together in the same sprayer. You should be repeating this spray on a 7–10 day schedule until December.

4. Add a shovelful of compost around each plant.

5. Feed your first feeding. Usually this is an inorganic fertilizer such as 10-10-10 since the ground may not have warmed up enough for the organisms to break down an organic fertilizer. Use about a cup or so per bush and scratch it in lightly.

6. Mulch the beds when the soil has begun to warm...maybe the first or second week in March.

7. Check soil pH if you have not done so in the fall and correct as needed.

8. Sharpen all tools before pruning.

9. This is the time to plant your bare-root roses you ordered from the rose nursery.

• Dig your hole 20”-20”-20”.
  
• Add amendments such as peat moss, cow manure, perlite, fine pine bark. Mix well.
  
• Make a cone of dirt in the center of the hole and spread the bare roots over this cone.
• Add amended dirt to about halfway and add water.
• After the water has absorbed, finish filling the hole and add more water.
• When this has absorbed, mound up mulch over the bud union and canes to keep them from drying out before the new roots develop.
• When the leaf buds start to grow, leaf out, and are about 2-inches long, start to pull the mulch away a little every 2-3 days.
  
• Leave the mulch around the base after you have removed it from the canes.

Finish any tasks noted in the February section that you have not yet completed.

1. Pruning of the roses and cleaning out of all old fallen leaves in the beds should be done and the first feeding of 10-10-10 or other inorganic fertilizer completed.

2. Spray every 7-10 days with both a contact (Mancozeb) and systemic (Honor Guard) fungicide.

3. Mulch the beds to keep down weeds and to keep the roots cool in the summer.

4. Water weekly – 5-6 gallons per bush if it has not rained.

5. Weed when necessary.

Happy Rose Growing!!!

Keep to your routine!! Remember your calendar and record what you do and when you do it. Good rose growing requires only a few jobs but they must be done consistently and on time. Feed monthly.

1. Water weekly if there has not been 2” of rain from the sky. Plants will need 5-6 gallons of water weekly if no rain.

2. Spray for fungus (blackspot) every 7-10 days even if the thermometer is supposed to reach 90 degrees.

3. Mulch the roses in March-April time frame with 1”-2” to keep the weeds down and the roots cooler.

4. Keep weeds out of the rose beds. They harbor insects and use up nutrients the roses need.

5. Keep the roses pruned to a reasonable height as you cut old blooms. You can cut down farther than the first 5 leaf bud union to keep them in check.

6. This is the time you can plant potted roses. If some of your roses did not do well last year it might be better to dig them out and replant with potted roses rather than try to nurse along a poorly performing bush. Potted roses can be obtained from either your local nursery or a mail order nursery that sends them to you already potted.

Happy Rose Growing!!!

Keep to your routine!! Remember your calendar and record what you do and when you do it. Good rose growing requires only a few jobs but they must be done consistently and on time. Feed monthly – You should have fed at least three times by now unless you use a slow-release fertilizer. Even then you should have fed twice.

1. Water weekly if there has not been 2” of rain from the sky. Plants will need 5-6 gallons of water weekly if no rain.

2. Spray for fungus (blackspot) every 7-10 days even if the thermometer is supposed to reach 90 degrees.

3. Mulch the roses in March-April time frame with 1-2” to keep the weeds down and the roots cooler. This job should be done by now.

4. Keep weeds out of the rose beds. They harbor insects and use up nutrients the roses need.

5. Keep the roses pruned to a reasonable height as you cut old blooms. You can cut down farther than the first 5 leaf bud union to keep them in check.

6. This is the time you can plant potted roses. If some of your roses did not do well last year it might be better to dig them out and replant with potted roses rather than try to nurse along a poorly performing bush. Potted roses can be obtained from either your local nursery or a mail order nursery that sends them to you already potted.

Cut and enjoy your roses and share them with neighbors. Good gardening!!

Keep to your routine!! Remember your calendar and record what you do and when you do it. Good rose growing requires only a few jobs but they must be done consistently and on time. Feed monthly – You should have fed at least three times by now unless you use a slow-release fertilizer. Even then you should have fed twice.

1. Water weekly if there has not been 2” of rain from the sky. Plants will need 5-6 gallons of water weekly if no rain.

2. Spray for fungus (blackspot) every 7-10 days even if the thermometer is supposed to reach 90 degrees.

3. Mulch the roses in March-April time frame with 1-2” to keep the weeds down and the roots cooler. This job should be done by now.

4. Keep weeds out of the rose beds. They harbor insects and use up nutrients the roses need.

5. Keep the roses pruned to a reasonable height as you cut old blooms. You can cut down farther than the first 5 leaf bud union to keep them in check.

6. This is the time you can plant potted roses. If some of your roses did not do well last year it might be better to dig them out and replant with potted roses rather than try to nurse along a poorly performing bush. Potted roses can be obtained from either your local nursery or a mail order nursery that sends them to you already potted.

Cut and enjoy your roses and share them with neighbors. Good gardening!!

Keep to your routine!! Remember your calendar and record what you do and when you do it. Good rose growing requires only a few jobs but they must be done consistently and on time. Feed monthly and water weekly if there has not been 2” of rain from the sky. Plants will need 5-6 gallons of water weekly if no rain. This should be divided into two waterings per week. This is by far the most important need for your roses. DO NOT NEGLECT THIS JOB!!

1. Water weekly if there has not been 2” of rain from the sky. Plants will need 5-6 gallons of water weekly if no rain.

2. Spray for fungus (blackspot) every 7-10 days even if the thermometer is supposed to reach 90 degrees.

3. Mulch the roses in March-April time frame with 1-2” to keep the weeds down and the roots cooler. This job should be done by now.

4. Keep weeds out of the rose beds. They harbor insects and use up nutrients the roses need.

5. Keep the roses pruned to a reasonable height as you cut old blooms. You can cut down farther than the first 5 leaf bud union to keep them in check.

6. This is the time you can plant potted roses. If some of your roses did not do well last year it might be better to dig them out and replant with potted roses rather than try to nurse along a poorly performing bush. Potted roses can be obtained from either your local nursery or a mail order nursery that sends them to you already potted.

Cut and enjoy your roses and share them with neighbors. Good gardening!!

Keep to your routine!! Remember your calendar and record what you do and when you do it. Good rose growing requires only a few jobs but they must be done consistently and on time. Feed monthly and water weekly if there has not been 2” of rain from the sky. Plants will need 5-6 gallons of water weekly if no rain. This should be divided into two waterings per week. This is by far the most important need for your roses. DO NOT NEGLECT THIS JOB!!

1. Spray for fungus (blackspot) every 7-10 days even if the thermometer is supposed to reach 90 degrees. Use a contact fungicide like mancozeb and a systemic fungicide like honor guard.
‍
2. Keep weeds out of the rose beds. They harbor insects and use up nutrients the roses need.
‍
3. Keep the roses pruned to a reasonable height as you cut old blooms. You can cut down farther than the first 5 leaf bud union to keep them in check.

4. If you have questions about your roses or are having difficulty with some disease or insect damage, bring a specimen to the rose meeting and maybe someone can identify the trouble and suggest a remedy for the problem.
‍
5. Mites could be a problem in the dry hot weather. They are tiny insects seen on the undersides of the leaves and you may need a magnifying glass to see them. They suck the nutrients out of the leaves and leave the leaves looking anemic and light pale green. They can be controlled by washing the undersides of the leaves with a water wand two to three times a week. If that does not do it, you can spray with Avid miticide weekly. Forbid will also work.

Note: If you plan to show your roses at the Rose Exhibition in October, remember to cut them back during the month of August. Since the roses take from 38-45 days to re-bloom after you cut them back, count back from the date of the exhibition to determine your cutback date. Roses will vary depending on the variety. Know your roses! Also, sprays will take longer since there are more blooms to open.

Cut and enjoy your roses and share them with neighbors. Good gardening!!

Keep to your routine!! Remember your calendar and record what you do and when you do it. Good rose growing requires only a few jobs but they must be done consistently and on time. Feed monthly and water weekly if there has not been 2” of rain from the sky. Plants will need 5-6 gallons of water weekly if no rain. This should be divided into two waterings per week. This is by far the most important need for your roses. DO NOT NEGLECT THIS JOB!!

1. Spray for fungus (blackspot) every 7-10 days even if the thermometer is supposed to reach 90 degrees. Use a contact fungicide like mancozeb and a systemic fungicide like honor guard.
‍
2. Keep weeds out of the rose beds. They harbor insects and use up nutrients the roses need.
‍
3. Keep the roses pruned to a reasonable height as you cut old blooms. You can cut down farther than the first 5 leaf bud union to keep them in check.

4. If you have questions about your roses or are having difficulty with some disease or insect damage, bring a specimen to the rose meeting and maybe someone can identify the trouble and suggest a remedy for the problem.
‍
5. Mites could be a problem in the dry hot weather. They are tiny insects seen on the undersides of the leaves and you may need a magnifying glass to see them. They suck the nutrients out of the leaves and leave the leaves looking anemic and light pale green. They can be controlled by washing the undersides of the leaves with a water wand two to three times a week. If that does not do it, you can spray with Avid miticide weekly. Forbid will also work.

Cut and enjoy your roses and share them with neighbors. Good gardening!!

Keep to your routine!! Remember your calendar and record what you do and when you do it. Good rose growing requires only a few jobs but they must be done consistently and on time. Feed monthly – Use a liquid fertilizer now. An organic will take too long to break down and will not be useful before the frosts begin. Stop fertilizing by the end of October. Water weekly if there has not been 2” of rain from the sky. Plants will need 5-6 gallons of water weekly if no rain. This should be divided into two waterings per week. This is by far the most important need for your roses. DO NOT NEGLECT THIS JOB!!

1. Spray for fungus (blackspot) every 7-10 days. Use a contact fungicide like mancozeb and a systemic fungicide like honor guard.
‍
2. Keep weeds out of the rose beds. They harbor insects and use up nutrients the roses need.
‍
3. Keep the roses pruned to a reasonable height as you cut old blooms. You can cut down farther than the first 5 leaf bud union to keep them in check.
‍
4. If you have questions about your roses or are having some difficulty with some disease or insect damage, bring a specimen to the rose meeting and maybe someone can identify the trouble and suggest a remedy for the problem.
‍
5. Mites could be a problem in the dry hot weather. They are tiny insects seen on the undersides of the leaves and you may need a magnifying glass to see them. They suck the nutrients out of the leaves and leave the leaves looking anemic and light pale green. They can be controlled by washing the undersides of the leaves with a water wand two to three times a week. If that does not do it, you can spray with Avid miticide weekly. Forbid will also work.
‍
6. You may want to refresh your mulch if most of the mulch you applied in the spring has turned to soil. This will protect the roots of the plants during the cool winter months.

Cut and enjoy your roses and share them with neighbors. Good gardening!!

Keep to your routine!! Remember your calendar and record what you do and when you do it. Good rose growing requires only a few jobs but they must be done consistently and on time. Feed monthly – Use a liquid fertilizer now. An organic will take too long to break down and will not be useful before the frosts begin. Stop fertilizing by the end of October. Water weekly if there has not been 2” of rain from the sky. Plants will need 5-6 gallons of water weekly if no rain. This should be divided into two waterings per week. This is by far the most important need for your roses. DO NOT NEGLECT THIS JOB!!

1. Spray for fungus (blackspot) every 7-10 days. Use a contact fungicide like mancozeb and a systemic fungicide like honor guard.
‍
2. Keep weeds out of the rose beds. They harbor insects and use up nutrients the roses need.
‍
3. Keep the roses pruned to a reasonable height as you cut old blooms. You can cut down farther than the first 5 leaf bud union to keep them in check.
‍
4. If you have questions about your roses or are having some difficulty with some disease or insect damage, bring a specimen to the rose meeting and maybe someone can identify the trouble and suggest a remedy for the problem.
‍
5. Mites could be a problem in the dry hot weather. They are tiny insects seen on the undersides of the leaves and you may need a magnifying glass to see them. They suck the nutrients out of the leaves and leave the leaves looking anemic and light pale green. They can be controlled by washing the undersides of the leaves with a water wand two to three times a week. If that does not do it, you can spray with Avid miticide weekly. Forbid will also work.
‍
6. You may want to refresh your mulch if most of the mulch you applied in the spring has turned to soil. This will protect the roots of the plants during the cool winter months.

Good gardening!!

Well, most of the work is done for the year.

1. Cutback tall canes to chest height so the winter winds will not blow them back and forth and loosen their roots.
‍
2. Keep up your spray schedule however until one or two heavy freezes. Blackspot can still occur.
‍
3. Check the pH of your beds (a full soil analysis is a good idea at this time). If the pH is low, this is a good time to add lime as this takes several months to work. Then you will be in good shape when you start gardening again in the spring.
‍
4. Evaluate your roses. Who did well and who did poorly? Could you replace the poor ones in the spring? If so, request the most recent catalogs and place your orders early so you can get what you want if they are not sold out.

Good gardening!!