Rose care calendar

We’re keen advocates of the ‘prevention is better than a cure’ regime for roses.  Here is our annual program for optimal rose health.

Spring

Water: once a week give a full watering can and seaweed solution to the root systems of every rose.

Spray: every second week spray with Yates Rose Shield plus seaweed solution (Plant Health Spray), alternate every second week with eco oil plus eco rose

Feed: every six weeks with organic pelleted rose food

Summer

Water: twice a week give a full watering can and seaweed solution to the root systems of every rose.

Spray: every week with Yates Rose Shield plus seaweed solution (Plant Health Spray), alternate every week with eco oil plus eco rose

Feed: every six weeks with organic pelleted rose food

Pruning: trim by one-third to encourage a better autumn flush

Autumn

Water: once a week give a full watering can and seaweed solution to the root systems of every rose.

Spray: every week with Yates Rose Shield plus seaweed solution (Plant Health Spray), alternate every week with eco oil plus eco rose

Feed: every six weeks with organic pelleted rose food

Winter

Water: no watering

Spray: lime sulphur is spray useful in reducing the population of insects, disease, fungal spores and insect eggs, disinfecting the rose giving it a fresh start for the coming spring season. This must be done onto bare stems, not on leaves, so is a job for just after the winter prune

Pruning: winter prune in late July-August, depending on where you live. Tidy up climbing roses.

Feed: fertiliser is unnecessary, but you can condition the soil around your rose with seaweed (actual seaweed, seaweed granules or pellets such as Seamungus)

Other jobs: Check ties on standard roses and climbers so they aren’t ring barking the stems.