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 (1)
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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.
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