WINTER |
|
|
December |
Roses going dormant and dropping leaves. Start planting new roses using compost and 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 and rake up all around the rose beds. Do not compost leaves. Use Kocide (contains copper oxychloride or copper hydroxide) and White Oil (petroleum oil) mixed together to spray on bare roses and 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 and enjoy your roses. Take photos. Visit nurseries and rose gardens for ideas. |
SUMMER |
|
|
June |
Feed with fertilizer, top up mulch and deadhead. Water well, especially pots. Prune all once flowering ramblers such as Albertine, Banksia roses and 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 and water in well. Top up mulch and water deeply and regularly. |
Fall |
|
|
September |
Foliar feed as in Spring. Prune winter flowering roses such as Lorraine Lee and Nancy Hayward. Watch for aphids. |
|
October |
Autumn flush of roses. Deadhead and enjoy. Prepare soil for new rose beds. Dig deeply, apply manure and compost. Turn over regularly. |
|
November |
Some good blooms still. Send away for rose catalogues from specialist rose nurseries and order new roses for winter planting. |
* Thanks to the Rose
Society of Victoria (Australia), Inc.
Slightly modified for the Northern hemisphere.