Seasonal Maintenance for Roses
- Take care not to let fertilizer fall on the base of the plant as this may cause scorching.
- Hoe the soil lightly; remove weeds and improve soil condition – sometimes called a dust mulch.
- May use a mulch of peat or pulverized bark. Apply when the soil is damp.
- When spraying make sure your applicator reaches under the foliage. This is as important as covering the top surfaces. Always follow manufacturer instructions.
- A jagged cut when pruning means pruning shears are not sharp. Damaged wood will create a haven for insects.
- Never cut a rose plant when wood is frozen or during a hot, dry spell.
- Prune above an outside bud. Allowing the branch to grow outward. Buds growing inward towards the center produce an unattractive bush.
- In tying a Climbing Rose – slowly flex cane tip to a horizontal position. They are at their most flexible in spring.
