Rose Care

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Last month we talked about pruning your bushes for the fair and the November rose shows.

• Prune about one third of the total bush height, and give the roses 6 weeks before a show to allow them to bloom.

• Feed them an organic rose food at half strength two separate times. First feeding is in mid September and then again around  October 7th.  

• For greener foliage give the plants some extra chelated iron.  

• Then give some water soluable fertilizer like Miracle Grow applied half strength each week for three weeks prior to the show should get results. 

• You may need to rinse off the leaves to control white flies and spider mites.

• After new buds start to form you should spray them every few days with a small amount of Orthene.  This will help to keep thrips from harming the blooms.