Summer is a tough time for roses, and watering will help them get through the hot months
The Mesa-East Valley Rose Society offers these summer rose-care tips:
- If you flood irrigate, water deeply two to three times a week. If you drip irrigate, water three to four times per week, a minimum of 3 to 4 gallons each time.
- Water needs to be able to soak 18 inches below the surface of the bed. Notice how long it takes for the wells around the roses to drain. If water sits for too long, you may need to add a soil-sulfur product such as Dispersul, which helps open up the soil structure.
- Another aid in promoting water penetration is to water a second time in the same day once a month. This allows the water to move lower and wider, washing the salts in the soil farther away from the root system. This helps prevent salt burn on the plant.
- If you grow roses in pots, water daily because of more rapid transpiration and lower capacity.
- Deep watering all areas at least once every two weeks will help push salts out of the root zones.
- It is also good to hose off your roses at least several times per week. Buy a water wand with an adjustable jet nozzle on the end. Spray the top and undersides of the leaves. This will increase the humidity around the bushes, clean off the leaves, and knock off lingering spider mites you might have.• If spider mites continue to be destructive, there are a number of good miticides on the market, including Avid, Hexygon and Floramite.
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