Rose Care Calendar

By Tami Reece, UC Master Gardener

January:

Buy, plant and prune roses this month.  The goal of pruning is to have satisfactory airflow and sunlight penetration into the bush.  Pruning also helps coax the rose bush into dormancy.  Prune out diseased, damaged, dead and crossing branches.  Prune in a “V” shape leaving 3, 5, or 7 canes per plant and 3-5 buds on each cane.  Clean up dead leaves, clippings and spent flowers to decrease the spread of disease and pests. Place 3-4” of mulch under the rose bush avoiding contact with the trunk.  Plant bare root roses or transplant a rose to a new location.

February:

Finish any pruning of your roses, even if they are still blooming.  Remove all leaves and blooms.  February is the last month to plant bare root roses or to transplant.  Fertilize this month or wait for first new growth.  Fertilize before an expected rain or give the plant a good soak.

March:

Once new growth is 2-4 inches long, apply fertilizer - granular or slow release are best - and water in well.  Follow fertilizer instructions to avoid over-fertilizing as too much can burn the roses and leach into groundwater.  To encourage an open center of the bush and facilitate good air circulation, pinch away any growth toward the center.  Remove any suckers from below graft union.

April:

April marks the development of new buds along with pests and disease.  Regularly monitor for aphids and other honeydew producing insects and manage with a strong stream of water.  Releasing ladybugs is not a reliable way to introduce and maintain beneficial insects to your yard.  It is best to attract them by planting a diversity of flowering plants that provide the needed resources.  Watch for rust and mildew. Continue to remove suckers throughout the growing season.

May:

Your roses should be in full bloom this month. Deadhead spent flowers throughout the season for a continuous bloom.  Monitor for thrips, evidenced by brown spots on lighter rose petals. Clean up plant debris and weeds under the bushes to discourage pests and avoid overhead watering to discourage disease.

June:  

Watch for evidence of earwigs chewing on outer petals and use tuna fish cans or rolled up newspapers to trap and discard them.

July:

Develop and maintain a regular irrigation schedule: water about once a week to 18 inches.  If it gets hot, over 90°F, you may need to water up to 3 times a week.  Check the depth of the soil moisture before proceeding. Roses in pots need water more frequently as they dry out faster.  Water when the top inch of soil is dry.  Control spider mites by minimizing dust, keeping the underside of leaves clean by spraying bushes with water or wiping with a gloved hand or soft cloth.  Look for the presence of predatory mites that can help manage the pest mites.

August:

Continue monitoring for spider mites as populations will increase with the warm weather. During hot weather, your blooms will be smaller and on shorter stems.

September:

Prune back any leggy growth.  If weather is starting to cool, the plant will develop larger blooms.  Watch for rust if weather becomes foggy or wet.

October:

Apply the last application of fertilizer for the year. You do not want to encourage any new growth during late fall or winter. This is a good time to replenish mulch under bushes.  Remove any weeds or plant debris.

November:

Some roses will continue to bloom while others enter a semi-dormant stage.

December:

If you live in North County, most of your roses will be dormant due to the cold weather. If you live in SLO or South County, roses may still be blooming.  You can start to prune now but most people on the Central Coast wait until January.

References

How to Manage Pests: Rose. UC IPM. Managing Pests in Gardens: Trees and Shrubs: Rose—UC IPM