WINTER

December

Roses going dormant & dropping leaves. Start planting new roses using compost & slow release fertilizer only. Move established roses to new locations if they are in the wrong place or too close together. Prune well before moving.

January

Start pruning roses. Remove all leaves from bushes & rake up all around the rose beds. Do not compost leaves. Use Kocide (contains copper oxychloride or copper hydroxide) & White Oil (petroleum oil) mixed together to spray on bare roses & lightly on ground around bushes to kill all black spot spores. Repeat in 2 weeks time. Repot roses into fresh, best quality potting mix with slow release fertilizer granules. Root prune by a quarter as well as pruning top.

February

At end of month feed all roses with fertilizer or a complete rose food. Water in well.

SPRING

March

Full Spring growth. Watch for aphids on new growth. Use Pyrethrum or other insecticides. When buds start appearing, commence spraying fortnightly with a foliar feed (fertilizer). Spray with fungicide for Black Spot.

April

Mulch with lucerne (alfalfa) hay or pea straw. Continue foliar feeding. Main flush of Spring blooms later this month. Stake water shoots with bamboo stakes to prevent wind damage.

May

Spring flush continues. Deadhead & enjoy your roses. Take photos. Visit nurseries and rose gardens for ideas.

SUMMER

June

Feed with fertilizer, top up mulch & deadhead. Water well, especially pots. Prune all once flowering ramblers such as Albertine, Banksia roses & heritage shrubs, i.e. Albas, Gallicas, Damasks. Watch for spider mites in dry, hot weather. Try wetting underneath foliage in the early mornings to discourage them.

July

Top up mulch well. Continue deadheading. Minimum watering if you are going to summer trim next month to time flowers for a special occasion or a show.

August

Summer trim all roses if timing flowering for a show or special event. Feed with fertilizer & water in well. Top up mulch & water deeply regularly.

Fall

September

Foliar feed as in Spring. Prune winter flowering roses such as Lorraine Lee & Nancy Hayward. Watch for aphids.

October

Autumn flush of roses. Deadhead & enjoy. Prepare soil for new rose beds. Dig deeply, apply manure & compost. Turn over regularly.

November

Some good blooms still. Send away for rose catalogues from specialist rose nurseries & order new roses for winter planting.