Roses make a beautiful addition to any garden. They fill the air with fragrant bloom scents and welcoming flowers. It is possible to assume that rose bushes will bloom all summer if they have been properly tended to and planted, but summer can bring unexpected weather conditions that can cause havoc to these prolific bloomers.
So how can you take care of your roses when the weather is unpredictable? With the proper care, your roses will continue to bloom and flourish all summer. These summer rose care tips will help keep your roses healthy and vibrant in even the harshest summer conditions.
Extreme Heat: Summer Rose Care
Rosebushes love the sun but can be stressed by extreme heat and drought in midsummer. It can be challenging to maintain rose bushes throughout the summer without some special rose care and maintenance. Rosebush varieties that are subject to heat stress will stop blooming, but you can prevent this and keep your roses looking their best by pruning, watering, and providing sun protection.
How to Water Roses in Summer
Roses thrive when they are watered regularly and deeply, but they are still given time for their roots to dry and circulate air between them. A deeper watering will encourage root development. Rose bushes depend more on constant watering if their root systems become shallow, so consider giving them some drought-tolerant companion plants.
These are some watering tips to keep in mind when caring for summer roses in your garden.
- A drip irrigation system can help water rose bushes and allow them to grow steadily for longer. This is also a great way of conserving water, getting the water where it’s needed, keeping foliage dry, and reducing runoff.
- Mulching rose bushes and gardens throughout the summer helps to retain moisture, reduce water loss, regulate root temperatures, and prevent soil from drying out.
- You can water your plants with a sprinkler or hose in the morning, so they have enough time to dry before it gets dark.
- Keep roses hydrated, but don’t soak them, and make sure your area is well-drained.
- Add organic material into your soil to allow air and water to penetrate deeper. This will allow the roses to develop stronger roots.
Pruning Rose Bushes During Summer
By deadheading your rose bushes, you are encouraging them to produce more blooms instead of allowing them to grow seed hips. For optimal bloom production, cut back spent blooms.
These are the general guidelines for summer rose care.
- Wear long sleeves and strong garden gloves to protect your skin from the thorns.
- Reduce the number of spent blooms by 1/2 inch from the top of the first set of leaves that hang behind the bloom head by deadheading your bushes.
- Remove any dead stalks. If you’re unsure whether a branch is still alive, you can cut the top of it. It is best to prune it if it becomes brown instead of green.
- Cut at 45 degrees angles. Make sure to cut away from the bud to allow rainwater to slide down the branch and not into the bud.
Protecting Roses from Extreme Heat
Shade cover can provide some relief during extreme heat. A shade cloth or a porch umbrella can provide sun protection for summer roses.
Handling Excessive Rain and Humidity
Some regions are subject to extreme heat and drought in the summer months. Others may face excessive rainfall and unyielding humidity. Both conditions can cause havoc to rosebushes and their beautiful bloom cycles.
Preventing Rose Bush Diseases
Rose plants can become ill if they are left wet for too long. Vigilance is crucial in keeping your rose plants’ leaves dry. Check your rosebushes every day for signs and symptoms of disease or distress. You can quickly combat these issues if you recognize them early.
Among the most severe fungal diseases you should be aware of are the following:
- Blackspot
- Powdery Mildew
- Rust
- Root Rot
Tips to Keep Rose Bush Diseases at Bay
There is little you can do when it rains or when high humidity levels are forecast. However, there are some things you can do to ensure your roses’ health and longevity until the storm passes and the sun comes out again.
- Avoid planting roses in areas where water pools. Standing water can make plants more susceptible to diseases, fungi, and root rot.
- Ensure that your roses are placed in a sunny location.
- Monitor the rainfall in your area and only water if it is dry. Water in the mornings and water your soil rather than your leaves. These practices prevent leaves from becoming too saturated and more susceptible to fungal diseases.
- Heavy and persistent rains can cause damage to limbs, break heads of blooms, and tear leaves. Use sharp, clean pruning shears to remove damaged canes and blooms.
- To reduce plant stress, you should leave as many healthy leaves as possible.
- Cut off damaged rose canes to a healthy section of the branch.
- Remove all diseased leaves completely from your rose bushes.
- Use an organic fungicide to treat leaves if a fungal disease is present.
Varieties of Heat and Humidity-Tolerant Rose Varieties
Are you looking for hardy bloomers that can withstand heat and humidity? These are some varieties of roses that will bloom all summer and well into the autumn, regardless of harsh weather conditions.
- ‘Calypso’
- ‘Cherry Parfait Grandiflora’
- ‘Lady of Shallot’
- ‘Rainbow Sorbet’
- ‘Carefree Wonder’
- ‘Black Cherry Floribunda’
