I would like to share with anyone who maybe reading this blog post (or anyone who might be wondering how) a few tips on how I have always looked after roses, and had some very good results in doing so my way.
I will start from the beginning of the March by taking a very sharp pair of secateurs, and pruning the rose bush down to about seven or eight inches, (this may seem very drastic at the time) but will help the rose bush through what can be a very cold month.
This will also benefit the rose bush by helping it to store up energy, and sort of sending it into hibernation mode, until the days start to get a bit warmer, and the growing season starts to kick in.
It is also a waste by having so much growth, as at this time of year it is simply not needed. When you prune the rose bush down to this height, is what you are aiming for is to leave three finger type branches sticking up from the main stem of the plant.
You also need to make the cut just above the node (the node is where the new growth comes out of on all plants and shrubs) if you were taking a cutting, you would cut below the node. I always make the cut at an angle that will make the new growth, grow away from the plant, as you don't want the branches growing into the centre of the plant.
I also remove any dead branches, and saplings, as theses are not needed on the rose bush, and do not make the plant look very nice.
I also use a small fork to dig around the base of the rose bush. I then add some slow release fertilizer like osmocote, this will help the rose bush to get all the nutriments it needs over a period of time.
Also when doing this job, make sure you have a very good pair of gloves that will help protect your hands, the thorns on rose bushes, are very sharp, and will cut you very easy, they will also lodge in your hands, and you will have to use tweezers to remove them.
The above method of pruning, is not used if you have roses that are growing around a trellis, or if you have the taller variety of roses. The climbing roses. I just keep dead heading them, the taller variety of roses. I never cut down to a single stem, you could use the above method for the taller variety, but make sure you only make the cut above the main stem.
When early summer arrives, you should notice that you have plenty of new growth, and rose buds will be starting to come out. During the summer months, the only maintenance I do, is dead heading, and watering. I always do the watering first thing in the morning.
When autumn arrives. I reduce the rose bush to half its size, this helps prevent damage to the plant in strong winds. And that is how I have always cared for roses and never had any problems with them, and have had some very big yields of flowers.
Pests and diseases I have come across on roses plants are, slugs, black spot. The slugs will attack the buds of your rose bush, leaving slime all over the flower buds, preventing them from opening, with this problem, leave some slug pellets at the bottom of the plant, or containers, and that should solve the problem.
With black spot fungus disease (which will make the leaves go yellow and black) you can try spraying them with the correct solution, brought from all garden centres, and follow the instructions. I always remove these leaves if I see them, and that is it, repeat the cycle, and your roses will be fine.
Article provided by fleetgardenservices.weebly.com