February is a prime month for rose care if a grand display of flowers is to be had by June. It is also a month when rose pruning workshops are available and bare root roses go on sale. Check in with your local nursery for plants and classes. Check the following tips for making your roses healthy and full of blooms.
PRUNE: Now is the time to grab a sharp pair of clean pruners and get going on the pruning. Remove all dead, diseased canes and branches. On hybrid teas, floribundas and grandifloras try to remove an older cane or two to encourage new cane growth this summer. With climbers, prune to shape. Always clip back canes and twigs to an outside bud.
FEED: Because of the warm, wet weather this winter, many roses are beginning to push out new growth. It’s a good time to begin feeding with an all-purpose rose fertilizer.
MULCH: Mulching goes a long way in smothering weeds and conserving moisture later this summer. It also conditions the soil, helping make fertilizer and water more available to plant roots. Mini fir bark mulch material is excellent for roses.
SPRAY: If rust, black spot and powdery mildew were a problem last summer, now is the time to consider spraying with a winter rose spay. Copper-based sprays work well if applied at least twice at two-week intervals. Disease-prone roses should be sprayed with an organic rose fungicide once leaves flush out. Baking soda based sprays, sulfur fungicides and bacillus based sprays work well if applied on a regular basis. All are organic.
Terry Kramer is a trained horticulturist and journalist. She has been writing a garden column for the Times-Standard since 1982. She currently runs a gardening consulting business. Contact her at 707-834-2661 or terrykramer90@gmail.com.
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