Rose care guide
Our friends at the Rose Society of Victoria recommend the following maintenance schedule
Winter
June
Winter Roses can be planted now. Ensure the ground is prepared with well rotted compost and slow release fertiliser.
If you need to relocate a rose, now is the perfect time to do it. When transplanting, prune first and water with liquid seaweed fertiliser such as Seamungus.
July
It’s time to prune (if you are in a really cold area, wait until August to avoid frost damage).
Remove leaves with black spot on the bush, and from the ground. Dispose in the bin. Spray lime sulphur on the bare rose and the ground around it to kill the spores.
Potted roses can be repotted in July. Prune the branches, then prune approximately one quarter of the root ball. Water well with Seamungus and apply slow release fertiliser.
August
Feed with rose fertiliser such as Sudden Impact for Roses (except recently planted bare rooted roses) and water in well.
Spring
September
Apply fortnightly liquid foliar spray such as Sudden Impact for Roses to new growth.
Inspect for aphids and control with insecticide such as Pyrethrum.
To control for black spot, spray with Eco Oil, Mancozeb, or Triforine
October
Apply a mulch of straw or lucerne.
Stake new water shoots to prevent damage.
Continue spraying if necessary for black spot.
November
Deadhead to encourage new blooms.
Summer
December
Give roses a feed with organic fertiliser, and apply mulch to the soil.
When watering roses planted in the garden, it is better to water every few days deeply, than a daily water. Roses in pots will need daily watering in summer temperatures.
To avoid fungal disease, water the soil and avoid getting water on the leaves, particularly at night when the plant will not have a chance to dry off.
January
Continue to water generously in hot weather.
Deadhead flowers to encourage new blooms.
February
Continue to inspect for fungal disease and insect activity (such as aphids), and treat as necessary.
Autumn
March
Apply foliar spray such as Sudden Impact for Roses.
Prune Winter flowering roses.
April
Deadhead flowers on Autumn flowering roses.
Prepare soil in garden beds for Winter plantings.
May
Continue to inspect for fungal disease and insect activity (such as aphids), and treat as necessary.
