Caring for Roses in Different Seasons

During Spring: Prune roses in early spring when the rose starts to demonstrate signs of new growth, frequently in the form of tiny red buds bulging. These buds will become new branches. Cut out any visibly dead or injured branches first and then cut out all but four or five healthy stems, each ideally about as thick as a pencil. This is known as the growing season, so make sure to fertilize roses regularly during spring. One of the easiest methods is to buy a slow-release grainy rose fertilizer and work it into the soil so it can feed the plant all season long. You can also fertilize the rose with a liquid rose fertilizer every three to four weeks during the growing season. Remember this season requires you to water meticulously.

During Summer: Most roses begin their show during the spring, but different types come into bloom at different times. Roses have one large showing in the beginning to middle of spring. However, duplicate flowering bushes have several meagre bloom cycles throughout the rest of summer, with one more sizeable production of flowers in mid to late summer. Older varieties produce blooms in the spring only one time then produce new canes the rest of summer months for the following spring's splendour. In summer, you should focus on mulch, because roses need less weeding and watering and have less disease if you mulch. This is also a season that requires the most spraying to prevent diseases and bugs from gathering on the plant. If your roses become diseased, you may want to deal with it by spraying. If you choose this method, identify the problem by trimming off the diseased part and taking it to a reliable garden centre, where the staff can prescribe the correct pesticide or herbicide.

During Winter and Autumn: Roses have been known to bloom in mild climates all winter long, but mostly, winter is a stagnant season for roses. During this resting period, roses need consistency of temperature for optimal continued existence. The whole idea of winter protection is to keep the plant homogeneously cold and frozen and to stop the harmful effects of exchange freezing and thawing. Autumn leaves fall to the ground alongside the last fading petals and your roses have stored away nourishment for winter months ahead and are shutting down their visible beauty. This is the time when they need thorough consideration. Winter is essential, yet a garden task that tends to be abandoned is the elimination of dead leaves from bushes. This, however, is crucial to help roses fight against fungal infection and water loss during these months. You should definitely stop fertilizing roses in early autumn, at least one month before your areas first annual frost day. Fertilizing too long into autumn encourages roses to produce sensitive new growth that will get destroyed by the cold. It is best to avoid white plastic cones for winter rose protection, because they are unappealing and can trap heat during a late-winter thaw, injuring the rose.

Michelle Reynolds has been growing roses for many years. To learn how to care for roses in different seasons, visit http://www.rosesmadeeasy.com/category/keeping-roses-healthy/