Summer Rose Care Tips

 

“My roses don’t look good” is a comment we’re hearing more of lately. July’s rain followed by the heat has left roses as well as other plants struggling with a variety of issues. Here are some things to do to keep your roses looking good.

First of all, keep up with the pruning by removing spent blossoms before they go to seed.

Removing faded blossoms stimulates the roses to grow and produce more blooms.

Feed your roses with Fertilome Rose Food or Mile High Rose Food. Feeding now will encourage stronger growth and better blooms through the rest of summer. Check for insects, particularly aphids.

Use a general insect spray such as Eight or buy and release some ladybugs near your roses.

Watch out for diseases, such as black spot or powdery mildew.

You can control these with Safer Garden Fungicide, Serenade or Green Cure concentrate. All of these products are organic.  

If the leaves on your roses are looking pale and adding iron didn’t help, use some Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salts) to restore the dark, rich green to your rose plants. Doing these things now will help your roses healthy and blooming, well into fall.