Question: When do I prune my roses and how should I take care of them?
Answer: Roses have many uses in landscaping and come in many different forms. Since shrub roses are the most popular, I will base my answers on them. Shrub roses have a bushy, shrub-like form and are adapted to a wide variety of uses. David Austin English roses, Flower Carpet and Knockout roses are among the most popular. Many roses in this group have better resistance to disease problems.
My rose garden of 20 David Austin English roses are kept in control pretty well with monthly fungicide spraying. In 2008, they were only sprayed twice. It helps that the roses are watered only as needed by drip irrigation. Thinning branches during the growing season also helps to improve air circulation and reduce disease. Using a systemic insecticide (Merit) for roses, once in March, will prevent insect problems all growing season.
Roses should be planted where they will daily receive six to eight hours of sunlight. Full sun in the early morning will discourage diseases by allowing foliage and buds to dry. A little shade in the afternoon will keep flower color from fading.
Using organic mulch around roses is important. In addition to conserving moisture, preventing weeds, and improving looks, mulching roses reduces damage from disease. In the past I have used small pine bark nuggets, pine straw and the landfill mulch.
Rose fertilization is simple, soil test every two to three years. To maintain rose fertility use .75 pound of 12-4-8, 12-6-6, or .5 pound of 16-4-8 fertilizer per 100 square feet of bed area in March, May and July.
Plan on watering roses based on soil moisture if drought conditions occur. Soaker hoses and drip irrigation provide moisture to the root system, but keep the foliage dry. If using a sprinkler, water in the morning to allow plenty of drying time. This will decrease the chance of disease.
Deadheading (removing spent flowers) is essential to maintain bloom throughout the growing season. Also prune to get rid of diseased, damaged, or dead wood. Rose pruning should be done just as buds break dormancy. In eastern North Carolina this is about now. Watch for buds to swell. Prune bush or shrub type roses back to three to five finger-sized canes 18 to 24 inches in length. Always use sharp clean tools and make cuts at a slant just above a bud. Occasionally dip pruners in a 70 percent alcohol solution to decrease spread of disease.
article by Cyndi Lauderdale
If you need more information on roses, call the Wilson County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers at 237-0113 or email questions to wilsonmastergardener@hotmail.com.
If you would like your gardening question answered here, contact Cyndi Lauderdale at cynthia_lauderdale@ncsu.edu.
