With their captivating blooms and sweet fragrance, rose bushes are prized additions to many gardens. However, caring for roses during the hot, dry summer months presents some unique challenges. Proper irrigation, pruning, pest control, and other maintenance is required to keep roses healthy and flowering profusely
Follow this 7-step summer care guide to get the most out of your rose bushes when temperatures climb
1. Water Regularly
Adequate water is critical for lush rose growth and maximum flowering. Roses need about 1-2 inches of water per week from rain or irrigation during summer.
Using drip irrigation or soaker hoses is ideal for slow, targeted watering. Water early in the day to reduce evaporation loss. Thoroughly soak the root zone, avoiding frequent shallow watering.
Add 2-3 inches of mulch around plants to retain moisture. Monitor soil moisture before watering again. Roses in containers need more frequent watering than in-ground plants.
2. Add Mulch
Mulching rose beds serves multiple purposes for summer care:
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Conserves moisture and reduces watering needs.
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Keeps roots cool and buffered from temperature extremes.
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Suppresses weed growth that competes for water.
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Improves soil as it breaks down over time.
Organic mulches like bark, leaves, or compost are best. Apply 2-3 inches around plants, keeping it a few inches back from stems. Replenish as needed.
3. Remove Shed Leaves
Old leaves that drop to the ground can foster fungal disease development. Rake up and dispose of any fallen leaves weekly.
Avoid excessive wetting of foliage when watering, which also encourages disease. Allow plants to dry out between waterings.
Good airflow through bushes is key. Thin congested centers and prune back encroaching branches.
4. Apply Fungicide as Needed
Black spot, powdery mildew, and other rose diseases thrive in summer’s heat and humidity. Apply preventative, organic fungicides according to label directions at the first sign of infection.
Good choices include neem oil, sulfur, or bicarbonate products. Maintaining plant vigor through proper care is the best defense against diseases taking hold.
5. Protect Against Japanese Beetles
These invasive pests can skeletonize rose foliage and damage blooms. Apply insecticidal soap spray at first sighting. Knock off beetles into buckets of soapy water.
Plant traps like lures or ally plants nearby to divert beetles away from roses. Cover prized bushes with floating row covers to exclude pests.
6. Prune Bushes to Maintain Shape
Most rose types benefit from occasional pruning to remove spent blooms and shape plants. This prompts a new flush of bloom in summer.
Make cuts just above outward facing buds. Remove dead or crossing branches anytime. Cease major pruning 6-8 weeks before your first fall frost date.
Let low-maintenance, repeat-blooming roses flower without deadheading. Simply prune lightly for size and form as desired.
7. Fertilize as Needed
Roses are heavy feeders during their active growth and flowering. Assess soil fertility in midsummer. Faded blooms and smaller flowers can indicate nutrient deficiency.
Apply an organic, balanced rose fertilizer per label instructions if foliage seems pale or yellowed. Too much nitrogen leads to floppy growth prone to disease.
Solutions for Summer Rose Problems
Even with attentive care, issues can still arise. Here are some common summer headaches and remedies:
Wilting plants: Increase watering frequency. Wilting in morning signals under-watering.
Leaf scorch: Supply shade or filtered sunlight if leaves burn or brown on edges.
Leggy growth: Prune back long shoots and increase sunlight exposure.
Few blooms: Boost nutrients with fertilizer to support flowering. Remove old blooms promptly to encourage rebloom.
Chlorotic leaves: Treat yellowing foliage with iron supplements or acidifier.
Chewing damage: Apply barriers and deterrents for deer, rabbits, and other pests.
Enjoy Seasonal Blooms
A bit of time invested in proper rose care through summer’s challenges will pay off in vibrant, vigorous bushes and months of stunning blossoms. Tailor water, pruning, and protection to your specific varieties and climate for rose gardening success.
7 Key Tips for Summer Rose Bush Care:
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Water roses 1-2 inches per week with drip irrigation or soaker hoses.
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Mulch beds to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
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Remove dropped leaves weekly to prevent disease development.
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Apply organic fungicides preventatively and improve airflow.
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Protect roses from Japanese beetles and other pests.
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Prune lightly to shape plants and encourage new blooms.
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Boost nutrients with organic fertilizer if needed to support flowering.
With a proactive summer care regimen, your beloved roses will flourish through the hot months ahead. Their graceful beauty and captivating fragrance will be your reward.
Step One: Deadhead Your Roses a Few Times Each Summer
Deadheading not only encourages new growth, but it also keeps your rose bush much neater looking. It’s super quick and easy and can be an easy happiness boost!.
I could have done this more often and earlier, but I think it’s better to wait until the first round of roses runs out.
To deadhead, instead of cutting each individual flower, look a little further down for the first set of five leaves.
Cut right above that using a right angle and clean sharp scissors or shears.
Sometimes that means cutting off a healthy flower, another reason to wait for a lot of dead flowers. Thanks for your help. In less than five minutes, that rose bush will look a lot better.
For an extra face-lift, take five minutes to pull some weeds and get rid of the dead heads.
I use pruning shears, but you can also use a pair of sharp scissors or garden hand clippers. Do wear gloves – rose thorns are no joke!.
Youll have blooms back in no time.
Your roses probably need one or more of these three things: water, sun, or fertilizer if they look weak and almost dead.
- These roses are taken care of by the rain, but if you live in a dry area, water the roots with a hose every week or two.
- Roses need FULL sun. That means at LEAST 6 hours. It’s possible that you planted your roses in the wrong place. If the spot they’re in now is too shady, you can always move them. Be careful when you dig them up in the fall or spring, when they are not growing. (Cut them back first to avoid having to deal with so many thorns!)
- Fertilizer. If you take care of the first two, your roses are probably missing some food. Rose gardeners usually fertilize roses no matter what from the time they start to grow until they stop growing in the fall. Every spring, try putting compost or old manure around the base of your rose bush. Commercial mixes designed for roses are great too. Just follow the directions.
Rose Summer Care | How to care for roses in the summer (June 2020)
FAQ
How do I keep my rose bushes blooming all summer?
How do you keep roses alive in the summer?
How often do you water roses in hot summer?
Do you prune rose bushes in the summer?
How do you care for a rose plant?
Apply a 2-inch layer of mulch around the base but not touching the stem. Water deeply and slowly to soak the soil. Keep in mind that roses in containers need more water than roses in the ground, on hot summer days daily and during a heat wave even twice a day.
How do you care for a rose bush in summer?
Summer rose care tips A well-maintained and healthy rose bush will be able to tolerate temperature fluctuations and dry spells. While summer can be stressful for plants, with the right maintenance, your roses will continue to bloom late into the season.
How often should you water roses in summer?
Hot summer days can dry out the soil and Roses can suffer. Roses growing in pots will dry out even quicker than in-ground plants. To help keep Roses healthy during summer, water them deeply 1–2 times a week. Thorough watering moves moisture down deep into the root zone where it’s needed.
Should you cut out a rose plant in the summer?
Speaking of fungal diseases, cut off any leaves if they are showing signs of stress or infection (like black spot, mildew or rust). If the whole cane is affected, cut it out now too. Caring for your roses in the summer doesn’t have to be a hot mess. Follow our care tips for healthy plants all season.
How do I protect my rose bushes from freezing weather?
Keep rose bushes from being top heavy to protect them from being uprooted in strong winds. Crossing branches that could be damaged by rubbing together should also be trimmed back. Take it easy though, as too much pruning can stimulate growth, and that new growth may be damaged by freezing weather.
Should you fertilize Roses in the summer?
Also, do not fertilize late in the summer — this is when roses prepare themselves for dormancy and by “feeding” them you’ll be encouraging them to grow which is the opposite of what they should be doing. Water roses less frequently and deep at the base of the plant. By doing this you’ll help the roots grow deeper and stay more hydrated.