Caring for Roses
Roses, the world’s favourite flowers, are great garden performers that, if well cared for, will live for many years and produce thousands of exquisite blooms.
Position
Grow roses in a sunny spot with plenty of air movement around the plants.
Soil
Before planting, dig in some old manure or compost and some Dynamic Lifter pellets. In areas with acid soil, add some Yates Garden Lime. Treat clay soils with Yates Gypsum before planting.
Fertilising
Feed rose plants regularly (at least monthly) during their growing season. Thrive Granular Rose Food and Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food can be alternated to provide roses with an all-round, healthy diet. Potted roses should be fed with Yates Once-A-Year Feeder for roses.
Pest & disease alert
- Black spot (dark spots on yellowing leaves), powdery mildew (white mouldy patches) and rust (raised orange bumps) are common fungal diseases that can seriously weaken roses.
- Insect pests such as aphids are attracted to the tender young shoots of roses.
- Control diseases and insect pests with Yates Rose Shield, a combined systemic fungicide and low toxic insect control, or convenient, ready-to-use Yates Rose Gun.
- Confidor gives long-term systemic insect control, and once it’s dried, won’t harm garden friends like ladybirds and hoverflies.
- Yates Pyrethrum is a natural insecticide that kills insect pests on contact.
- Yates Natrasoap is an organic insecticide that also controls tiny sap-seeking mites.
Rose Pruning Tips
- Prune using sharp secateurs and a good pruning saw.
- Prune most roses in mid to late winter.
- Climbers, weepers and roses that only bloom in spring should be pruned after main flowering is over.
- Clear the centre of the bush and shorten all growth.
- Remove weak and spindly branches.
- Immediately after pruning, while roses have no leaves, spray with Yates Lime Sulphur to clean up fungal diseases, scales and mites.
Shopping list:
- Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food
- Yates Garden Lime
- Yates Gypsum
- Thrive Granular Rose Food
- Thrive Once-A-Year Feeder Roses
- Yates Rose Shield
- Yates Rose Gun
- Confidor Ready to Use
- Yates Pyrethrum
- Yates Lime Sulphur
- Yates Natrasoap
Handy tips:
- Wear strong leather gloves when pruning roses. Make sure that your fingers and the backs of your hands are well protected.
- Hang half-opened roses upside down to dry. They can then be used to make long-lasting bouquets.
- Cut blooms with long stems. This encourages more flowers to form.
Comments (8)
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evelyn
Yates site member
14:52, 01 December 2009
i dont get very many flowers even though i fertalize and water on water mornings
kevin
Yates site member
19:09, 06 January 2010
An extra feed of potash would be beneficial.Deadheading increases flowers. Another point is to open the soil around your plants, the water may not be getting to the roots.
aimy
Yates site member
08:20, 21 May 2010
what do you do when you want to get read of aphids ? & stop them eatin the rose
ANN
Yates site member
04:16, 23 June 2010
hallo I have just bought a miniture rose tree just starting to open with loveley red roses its planted in a stone pot could you tell me how many times a week i water it ive put 3 feeding pellets in it they last 6 months and when would i proon it thanks ANN
Isabelle
Yates site member
15:48, 07 July 2010
I enjoyed your video on black spot. What I would really appreciate is a video on rose pruning.
Elizabeth
Yates site member
16:15, 07 July 2010
Hi Thank you so much for the information re the roses. I have one problem I hope you can help me with – the possums seem to enjoy my roses for dessert during the night not just the roses but strip the plants of all the leaves. Any suggestions.
Lee
Yates site member
17:22, 07 July 2010
prune my roses and spray with lime sulphur and when leaves show black spot trim off and spray with rose gun
catherine
Yates site member
23:04, 07 July 2010
My neighbours on both sides have beautiful roses and since I’m the newcomer, your tips and videos are great inspiration and encouragement to me
Ahmed
Yates site member
21:09, 11 July 2010
A great inspirational video indeed. Im a sucker for great looking roses, this video will help me to succeed this.
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