Many roses will have a repeat bloom period after the first flush in June. How to encourage this? Here are some tips:
- Deadhead spent flowers promptly above a leaf with a set of 5 leaflets
- Remove vegetative canes (long shoots with all leaves) as they appear this month – will not bloom
- Rake up fallen leaves and petals around the base of each plant to prevent the spread of disease
- Anoint your rose weekly with a liquid organic fertilizer
- Keep sprays of water off the plants and water from the base only – drip irrigation is ideal
If you had a touch of Rose Slug Sawfly damage in June (brownish, skeletonized leaves remain now), carefully remove the worst of the leaves and start the weekly fertilizing routine to promote strong new growth. It’s often helpful to remember to do this by picking a specific day of the week.
If we get a spell of really hot weather for several weeks, the roses will stop blooming. Don’t be alarmed – they are taking this rest to survive. It takes energy to bloom! Keep fertilizing, and the rose flowers will return when temperatures cool down in late summer.
