Care & Symptoms of Roses

Roses require about 2 inches of water per week throughout the growing season.

Growing roses involves understanding the proper growing culture. Knowing the symptoms of common rose diseases helps prevent infections from destroying the rose garden.

Light

Roses grow best in full sun with about 6 hours of sun per day. Roses with inadequate sun exposure are lanky, lack blooms and appear unhealthy, according to the Oklahoma Rose Society.

Planting

Roses require soil that is well drained and full of nutrients. As a result, raised or elevated beds work well for rose gardening. Plant roses in a hole about 1-foot wide and 1-foot deep in the early spring.

Water

Roses do not like having too much water and overly wet soil, roots and plant material contribute to development of fungal diseases in roses. Roses require about 2 inches of water per week throughout the growing season, according to the Oklahoma Rose Society.

Fertilizer

The best method for applying fertilizer is to dig a trench around the rose bush's drip line. Fill with 1/2 cup of 10-20-10 fertilizer in May. Apply the fertilizer monthly throughout the growing season and mulch to protect against summer heat.

Disease

Fungal diseases are detrimental to a rose garden and cause discolored lesions or mold growth on rose plants. Begin spraying with fungicide early in the growing season and continue until cutting back roses in the late fall. Prune and destroy any infected plant material, to avoid spreading disease to healthy roses, recommends the University of Minnesota Extension.

References

• Oklahoma Rose: Tips on Growing Roses A to Z
• Univeristy of Minnesota: Rose Diseases