How to Water Roses

Whether you've planted climber roses or simple bush roses, all roses have a distinct watering requirement. If you want to maximize your viewing pleasure with a beautiful rose garden, your roses must be watered just right. Roses love water and need lots of it, but make sure to provide adequate drainage as well. If you're not quite sure how to water your roses, read through a few steps to learn how.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hose
• Drip irrigation system
• Soaker hoses

1. Add enough water to your roses so the water adequately reaches the roots. If the rose does not receive enough water, the leaves will sag.

2. Do not over water the rose. This will cause the leaves to turn yellow and fall off. Roses like a lot of water, but never let the water pool up. The water must have proper drainage. Roots with to much water exposure will rot.

3. Water your roses slowly until they are soaked about 18 inches. Soaker hoses are great for slowly administering water to plants. Because the water never touches the leaves, this means less black spots and botrytis on your rose petals.

4. Convert your existing sprinkler system to a drip irrigation. The drip system applies the water to your roses slowly; in gallons per hour instead of gallons per minute.

5. Keep the soil around your roses consistently moist. Do not let the soil dry out.

Tips & Warnings

• To ensure proper watering for your particular roses, water your roses according to the soil, climate and age of the plant.
• Water your roses in the early morning so the rose petals have a chance to dry out before night. Water left on the petals can cause the growth of fungus diseases.

Resources

• Rose care