February is a make-or-break month for rose lovers. After months of dormancy, your roses need some attention to wake up and bloom beautifully in spring. If you ignore them now, they might struggle, bloom weakly, or even fail to thrive.
Many gardeners assume that roses will take care of themselves once winter ends, but that’s not the case. Proper pruning, watering, and pest control in February will ensure that your roses return with full, vibrant blooms. However, there’s one other thing these garden beauties rely on, according to gardening expert William Mitchell of Sutton Manor Nursery.
He said: “February is the ideal time to prepare your flowering shrubs for spring growth. The rose needs a continuous supply of nutrients throughout the growing season in order to perform at its best.”
William argued that not only do “healthy roses bloom better”, but they are also “more resistant to disease and insects”.
He advised that keeping a gardening calendar handy, where you can write down when and how you fertilise, is something that will help you stay organised.
William explained that roses usually awaken from their winter slumber in late March or early April and should be fertilised when the first buds start to sprout at the latest.
He noted: “Fertilising them with a slow-release fertiliser in February allows for early growth and protection before the first growth appears.”
Then, in late June or early July, second fertilisation is recommended for “repeat-flowering rose varieties”.
When feeding your roses, make sure to do so at the base, avoiding the leaves to prevent burns.
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