Begin your deep watering program

In early May, heavy rains could still be left over from April. If that’s so, then adjust your watering schedule accordingly. Otherwise, maintaining the correct moisture level is an absolute necessity.

Although Roses don’t need as much water as other plants do, they prefer a root soaking rather than watering their blooms and leaves. Of course, over-watering can cause mildew and related fungal diseases to appear so be careful.

Start your deadheading program

Deadheading your rose plants results in an extended blooming season. Simply cut back a few branches with outward-facing buds that have more than five leaflets.

This is also a good time to enhance the overall appearance of your bushes by removing any faded blooms.

May is the start of the organics season

Once your roses have produced their first flush, it’s time to apply the organics. Organics, including blood, fish, alfalfa, and cottonseed meal are an excellent food source for roses as is seaweed and wood ashes. Rinse seaweed in fresh water before using.

This is also the right time to start working on your soil amendments by applying compost and manure, shredded leaves, and grass clippings freely and abundantly.

Summer Pest Control Issues

Insects and diseases will be trying to get off to a good start this time of year as well. You can nip them in the bud, no pun intended, by recognizing and counteracting the effects of these common rose threats.

Aphids

These green or brown-colored insects form small colonies and suck the fluids from your roses. While their presence is often fatal to your roses, treatment is simple and effective. Just spray them with a mild soapy water solution.

Black Spot

This fungal disease can be recognized by the black spots that appear on the foliage. This condition is caused by incorrect watering. First prune away the affected foliage and discard the clippings in a trash can. Do not leave them on the ground around your roses. Next, start soaking your roses at the roots rather than watering from overhead.

Canker

This fungal disease causes the canes to turn black or brown before dying. Canker usually forms while the rose bush is under winter protection. Prune back affected canes to below the canker spots and discard the canes in a trash can.

Midge

These are maggots which bore into your roses and cause the buds to turn black. Prune out and discard the affected buds in a trash can.

Rust

This fungus disease can only be treated with a commercial fungicide. Symptoms include an orange-color powder which gives the disease its name. Rust is usually the result of mild, wet winters which allow the fungus to thrive when it would normally be killed.

Spider Mites

Initial infestation becomes evident when the foliage starts to turn a dull red color. As the infestation increases you will begin to notice small webs. Treatment is as easy as spritz the mites, as well as the affected areas, with plain water.

The same goes for roses. It is in the spring that people begin planting or replenishing their rose gardens. For those bushes that are already established, spring is the time to see new buds and blooms trying to be born.

If you are interested in helping your roses get an even bigger boost in the spring, you may want to try this special tonic that is used to give your roses a strong boost of all of the nutrients that your roses need in order for them to grow strong, healthy and produce a lot of buds. Try this recipe for the greatest spring start to your roses.

1. Be certain to apply in the early spring after you have removed any of the necessary winter protection that you put up.

Here is a list of the ingredients that you will need to make this mixture. You should mix them in a 5 gallon tub or bucket.

• 2 cups of alfalfa meal
• 2 cups of Epsom salt
• 2 cups of fish meal
• 2 cups of gypsum
• 2 cups of greensand
• 1 cup of bone meal

2. You will first have to pull back the mulch that has been placed around your rose bush.

3. You will next, want to work one cup of this tonic into the top inch of soil if you have a smaller bush.

4. You will do best to use a trowel or a hand cultivator for larger bushes. (that would be bushes that are 6 feet or taller) For these sizes, you will need to use three or four cups.

5. Now you will have to replace the mulch and water your roses very well.

Tip #1: You can do this again in the middle of June if you want to keep your roses blooming. Just scratch 2 cups of the mixture into the soil.

Tip #2: You should wear a dust mask while you are mixing your ingredients for the tonic.

Aphids and Spider Mites

Aphids are a greenish brown insect that suck the juices from roses, and can eventually cause your roses to dry out. To effectively treat them, simply blast your roses with soapy water.

Black Spots

Black spots are a fungal disease that causes the canes to turn black or brown in spots on the foliage. To remedy this, simply prune the affected areas and throw out the clippings. Do not water the head to prevent this from happening again.

Canker

A canker is another fungal disease that causes the canes to turn black or brown. All you have to do is prune the canes just below the canker in the early spring.

Midge

A midge is a tiny maggot that causes the rose’s buds to blacken from the damage. If you want to fix this problem, prune the affected area and then destroy it.

Rust

Rust is a disease that creates an orange powder in the center of the rose. It is caused by wet and calm winter weather. Putting in some spider mites can help with this because they hate the water. You should consult your local garden center about the best insecticide to use in order to get rid of the spider mites. Once you have chosen the insecticide, spray every 7-10 days until it is under control.

Powder Mildew

You can put an end to powder mildew by making a mixture of 1 gallon of water

2 TBSP of baking soda
1 TBSP of Murphy’s Oil Soap

Spray over the roses in the morning every two weeks until the overall temperature around the roses reaches 80 degrees.