Rose bushes have been blooming in many local landscapes for the past few weeks. By now many rose bushes have already gone through their first flush of flowers and if cared for properly they will produce a second flush of flowers. To get that second flush of flowers the old finished flowers need to be removed so that the plants energy goes into making new flowers rather then form seeds. If the finished flowers are left on the plant the finished flower will form a rose hip which contains the seeds.

Deadheading is done as soon as the flowers have finished blooming. The finished flowers can be removed singularly or as a clump. Cut the finished rose flower to just above the nearest outside facing 5 leaf junction. Choose the outside facing leaf junction to promote the new growth to grow outwards which keeps the centre of the bush open which creates better air circulation in the centre of the rose bush. Air circulation is important when growing roses as it helps prevents mildew and fungus which roses can be prone to. When cutting the stem, cut the stem on a slight angle, so that moisture runs off the cut rather then sit in it, which can lead to fungus and disease. Continue to deadhead roses until mid-August, and then leave them alone. By allowing the rose hips to form the rose knows that it needs to begin the process of going dormant so that it can be dormant when winter arrives. Roses need to be dormant in order to survive the winter.

To keep roses healthy and happy they need to be fertilized regularly. You can use a granular rose fertilizer such as 6-8-12 every 4-6 weeks, or a water soluble rose food every week. Only fertilize until mid August so that the rose bush can get ready for winter Moisture is also an important factor in a roses health. During dry spells, water the rose bush thoroughly. When watering a rose, try not go get water on the foliage. It is best to water the soil around the bush so that the foliage remains dry. If you have to overhead water, then do it in the morning, so that the foliage dries quickly over the day. If the foliage remains wet for a prolonged length of time there is a chance of mildew or blackspot, which should be treated with a fungicide.

Routinely check rose bushes for pests such as aphids, and spider mites which tend to enjoy roses. Both of these sucking insects. Aphids are soft bodied and tend to be green in colour. They are most often found on the young tender growth of new leaves and buds. They can be controlled if caught early enough with insecticidal soap. Spider mites are very tiny (1 cm ) and are found on the undersides of foliage. They are very hard to find, and can only be seen by using a magnifying glass, or by placing a sheet of clear white paper under a leaf, and then shaking the leaf to see if any little spider mites fall on the paper. Spider mites will cause the leaves to mottle and dry and eventually fall off. They thrive on dry arid weather such as what are experiencing right now. Insecticidal soap can by used to help eliminate them or you may have to go to something stronger such as Malathion. If you have a problem with roses and are not sure what to do, pick a couple of the affected leaves, put them in a clear ‘Ziploc’ bag and bring them into the garden centre where someone can help you. 

-Jos

• Highway 16 west at Kimball Road
• Highway 97 north at Northwood Pulpmill Road