ROSE CARE CALENDAR

 

 

Below is a calendar that provides a summary of what needs to be done each month to achieve healthy rose bushes with beautiful blooms in your garden.  More detailed information on the care and cultivation of roses in Western Australia can be found in the publication "The Rose Garden", which is available from the Rose Society of Western Australia for $10.00.  Please see our “For Sale” section.

 

January

Watch for Spider Mites through summer, they like hot dry conditions. Try wetting underneath the leaves in the morning to discourage them.

Maintain regular deep watering and avoid light sprinkling.

Keep watching for Chilli Thrip and spray as necessary (see notes in September).

 

February

Take off any suckers (bright green shots) from below the graft.

Continue deadheading and feeding.

Check for Spider Mites and watch for Powdery Mildew.

Keep watching for Chilli Thrip and spray as necessary (see notes in September).

 

March

Start your summer pruning. Take about a 3rd off your bush but don't cut so low that you expose the stems as they will get sunburnt. 

Members.... time this prune for the Autumn Show.  Give last feed of Sudden Impact.

Continue control of Powdery Mildew.

Keep up regular deep watering.

Keep watching for Chilli Thrip and spray as necessary (see notes in September).

 

April

Continue to watch out for Powdery Mildew as this can be more of a problem at this time of the year with the warm days and cooler nights.

Also be on guard for Rust, Black Spot, Thrips and Aphids as these pests will also start to appear.

Feed with Seamungus.

Keep watching for Chilli Thrip and spray as necessary (see notes in September).

 

May

Continue deadheading and feeding with Seamungus.

This is the time of year to visit nurseries to get your new rose bushes to plant to have blooms for the summer season.

Visit the Autumn Rose Show to get new ideas and check out new roses that you would like for your own garden.

Keep watching for Chilli Thrip and spray as necessary (see notes in September).

 

June

Cultivate and weed beds in preparation for July pruning.

Continue deadheading, or if you would like to try and get an extra flush of blooms for the following season, you could try pruning in the first week of June.

Plant new roses.

 

July

Depending upon the rose, it takes approximately 42-50 days for Hybrid Teas to produce blooms, 50-55 days for Floribundas and 35-40 days for Miniatures, so time the pruning of your bushes to coincide with the time that you want the blooms.

After pruning, rub off any eyes, which are growing inwards as this saves time cutting them out at a later date. 

When you have finished pruning your rose bushes, spray all over, including the garden bed, with Lime Sulphur, mixing 20ml to 1 litre of water.  This will clean up any fungal spores and bugs.

If your roses are in pots, repot them if they are not doing well.

 

August

When the roses start pushing out new growth to a couple of centimetres, feed with Sudden Impact and mulch with organic mulch. 

Continue to rub off any eyes, which are growing inwards (finger pruning).

 

September

Aphids can start appearing very early in September so you need to start spraying for them early in the month with Confidor or Eco Oil.

Foliar feed with Seasol or Fish Emulsion every 2 weeks. This can be added to your spray when spraying for bugs.

Thrips start attacking your roses when the buds appear, which is usually closer to the end of September, so you will also need to commence spraying your buds and leaves fortnightly with Confidor, Insecticidal Soap or Neem Oil.

Continue with foliar feeding but now change to Fruit and Flower so that you don't stain the petals.

If you get this pest called Chilli Thrip you will need to spray your rose bushes with either one of the following products Conguard, Yates Ultra Success, Confidor, Spectrum 200 or Rose Shield. Spray in the late afternoon when the temperature has dropped below 25C. Ensure the spray thoroughly covers the whole bush and spray the ground underneath as well.  Chilli thrip larvae fall to the ground and live there during the pre-pupal and pupal stages until a reproductive adult appears with fully developed wings. Spray at least 2 or 3 times over the next few weeks. This regime may need to be repeated if the pest reappears, so vigilant monitoring is required thereafter. It is recommended to alternate with different products throughout the spray regime.  Research is continuing by scientists to develop a spray for Chilli Thrip.  In the meantime, keep monitoring for Chilli Thrip right through the warmer months and spraying as necessary.  

If you see the first signs of Powdery Mildew, spray with either Rose Shield or Triforine (good for Mildew, Rust & Black Spot).

Commence disbudding.

Dust with Lime Sulphur.

As rains taper off, commence watering.

 

October

Spider mites can start appearing now so if you notice them you will need to spray weekly with Eco Oil or Spider Mite Spray for 3 weeks to get rid of them.

Keep watching for Chilli Thrip and spray as necessary (see notes in September).

Continue foliar feeding every 2 weeks with Fruit and Flower.

This is the time when the plants start producing their main flush of spring blooms.

Water shoots (new growth) that come off the union at the bottom of the plant or low down on branches, grows quickly and they are soft, so you need to put a stake in and tie up to prevent wind damage.

Mulch with organic mulch if needed before the summer heat.

If you are showing your blooms, take off the side buds of Exhibition roses and take the centre one out of your Floribundas.

Visit the Spring Rose Show and nurseries as the roses are in full bloom.

Take off any spent blooms.

 

November

Continue foliar feeding every 2 weeks with Seasol and Fish Emulsion, changing to Fruit and Flower as your buds form.

Foliar feeding can continue this way until the Autumn Show. You may need to spray again for Aphids, Thrips and Spider Mites.

Continue fertilising until the end of March.

Deadhead as required and enjoy your roses.

Keep watching for Chilli Thrip and spray as necessary (see notes in September).

 

December

Keep up the feeding and top up your mulch.

Make sure you deep water, especially pots.

Watch for Rust and Spider Mites.

Keep watching for Chilli Thrip and spray as necessary (see notes in September).