When shoud you start preparing your rose garden for the onset of spring and summer? Well, if you live in
an area where you can start seeing the promise of spring in late March or early April, then you're an "early
spring" rose gardener. However, if you live where March and April still brings icy rain and snow, then just
keep waiting out old man winter until your turn at spring arrives and then follow the tips in this article.
Early spring is a time of great activity in the rose garden as you prepare for the beautiful buds that will be
sprouting almost any day. Here's a summary of what needs to be done in order to prepare your roses for
the tough growing season that lies ahead.
If you covered your roses with dirt or mulch, your first step is to gently remove the protective materials so
you can introduce your dormant bushes to the warming spring sun and rains that lie ahead.
Before beginning your spring pruning activities, cut back any dead and damaged canes that did not
survive the winter. Be sure to clear away any debris and residue from around the bushes as well.
Prepare the soil to nurture your plants by adding some organic compounds. You can either buy
pre-packaged organics from your favorite garden supplier, or you can mix up your own recipe using
composted manure or mushroom compost, or any of the usual meal blends which can include alfalfa,
cottonseed, fish or blood meal. See below for some suggestions.
Work your soil with a spade or hoe if it has become too compacted during the winter or if you notice
standing water after watering your plants. Roses require well-drained soil to thrive.
After soil preparation is done you can plant any new additions to your garden including container grown
roses.
Next it is time to begin your fungicide spraying regiment either immediately or, if you prefer to wait,
approximately 14 days after you complete your pruning. Opinions on the best time differ. The choice is
yours.
Remember to rotate through different fungicides during the year to prevent any fungi from becoming
immune to any one product.
Don't use any pesticides unless you see evidence of damage, but remember to keep a sharp eye out for
aphids which are as much a sign of spring as April showers are. Hit them with a blast of water to remove
them, or apply insecticide in a mister to the affected areas.
Imagine how hungry you'd be if you just woke up from a long winter hibernation! Well, your Roses are
hungry too. The best way to coax them from dormancy to budding is to feed them now and every other
week through the remainder of the growing season. Water well after feeding! Feed with a fertilizer
balanced for Nitrogen (N), Phosphates (P2O5) and Potash (K2O). Nitrogen stimulates the growth of
leaves and canes and increases the size of the bush. Phosphate stimulates the growth of roots, canes and
stems and speeds up flowering. Potash stimulates the production of top quality blooms and improves the
drought and disease resistance of the plant. A good balanced fertilizer with these elements is 10-10-10.
Another popular spring fertilizer is Osmocote which is a controlled release fertilizer that releases nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium depending on soil temperature. The 18-6-12 (8 to 9 month term) formulation is
recommended for this area. Osmocote is also available with trace elements added in a product with the
name of Sierra 17-6-10 Plus Minors Controlled Release Fertilizer
There! Your rose garden is ready for spring, but remember your work is far from over. If spring is near then
summer can't be far behind. Read our summer article at http://www.RoseGarden-How-To.com to learn how
to prepare your roses for the coming summer heat.
