Rose Tips - June 2002

Rose Tips by Al Karsten

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Rose Tips
June 2002

Roses, the queen of all flowers, will reward you with a better show if you feed them well and often. From a single flower to a massed display of blooms, roses can provide beauty. Without care however their beauty is short lived.

Fertilizing
Around June 15th it is time to fertilize your roses again. Roses are big feeders and need fertilizer several times during the growing season. Apply an 8 ounce cup of 13-13-13 fertilizer to each rose bush (unless you have recently applied osmocote fertilizer). If you have had your rose bed soil tested within the last year follow the instructions of the analysis. Otherwise, just use 13-13-13. Simply follow these steps:

Dig a shallow trench, apply the 8 ounce cup of fertilizer.
Water in thoroughly, cover over the trench.
After the first cycle of blooms become faded, cut off (deadhead) the faded blooms at the first five-leaf leaflet. You will notice an "eye" at the axial.
Cut about 1/4 inch above the 5th leaflet.

This process improves the look of the plant and encourages a further flush of flower growth.

Pruning should be done on the outside of each cane to keep all canes from growing together in the middle of the bush. You want the center of the bush to be open for good air circulation and new growth. Keep in mind:

The only mistake you can make is not pruning at all.
Always cut the rose cane at an angle.
Never cut straight across the rose cane.
Remove lower leaves up to six or twelve inches to let the sun in, to encourage basal shoots and to discourage spider mites in warmer weather.

Insects and Disease
Continue your weekly spray program. It is best to spray the day after you water (or after it rains) so the spray will not burn the foliage. Once warm, humid weather arrives you need to be on the watch for blackspot. It is all right to mix your fungicide and insecticide together for your weekly spraying. Follow directions on both containers. Add one tablespoon of a foliar fertilizer to each gallon of water with your fungicide and insecticide. Roses thrive on supplemental feedings of liquid fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro or the generic equivalent - 15-30-15. Apply the liquid fertilizer from a watering can to your perennials and annuals. You will notice a difference!

Roses can have several viruses that cause yellowed lines or patterns on leaves. There is no known control.
A pesticide is used to remove unwanted pests, such as fungus and insects. An insecticide is for insects, a fungicide is for fungus, and a miticide is for spider mites.

Always consider safety issue when using chemicals. It is recommended you wear long sleeve shirt and trousers, along with wearing a mask. Change clothing after spraying and cleaning the sprayer. Do not use your rose sprayer for weed killer.

When the expected daytime high temperature is 85 to 90 degrees cut back the spray application by half. In other words, if instructions indicate 1 tablespoon per gallon, use only � tablespoon per gallon. If the temperature is forecast for 90� or above DO NOT SPRAY. Wait until the temperature falls below 85�to continue your weekly spraying. Extra spray should not be held over until the following week. Use any leftover for perennials such as phlox or any mildew prone plants or shrubs such as lilac.

Water
Remember to water, water, water. At least one inch of water per week unless we get sufficient rainfall. If you purchase container roses later in the season when they are cheaper, do not apply granular fertilizer to the newly planted rose bush. It could burn the roots. Wait until the rose bush as put out blooms, then one cup of the 13-13-13 is OK. Water in thoroughly. As you remove the rose bush from the container to plant, look to see if the roots are growing around tightly in the ball of dirt. If that is the case, use a knife or scissors and cut in 3 different areas of the roots from the top of the soil to the bottom of the soil. When the rose bush is planted the roots will be able to grow out in various directions.

Visit Some Gardens
June is a good time to visit rose gardens to see how others grow roses and get an idea of roses you would like to add next year. For starters, try Loose Park (51st and Wornall, Kansas City, Missouri). Loose Park is closed until June 22, 2002 . There will be a dedication of the new water fountain at that time. Watch your newspaper for further information. The new fountain will be beautiful and a worthwhile trip.

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