There are several practical tasks to help maintain roses at their best — applying mulch around the base of the rose helps maintain moisture, protects the soil surface and reduces weed growth; watering well during the growing season, noting that roses shifted or recently planted may require more watering; and feeding roses with fertiliser by apply around the drip line a little and often, but only when the soil is moist.
To encourage new growth and repeat flowering, remove or dead-head old flowers. This is simply achieved by removing the old flower or flowering stem by cutting back to the first complete leaf with five leaflets, or to any new actively growing side shoots. In roses that have multi-headed blooms, pinch out each individual flower as they age until the entire head has finished, then remove the stem.
When selecting new roses look for good healthy bushes. Many newer varieties are bred to be more resistant to pests and diseases. The Dunedin Botanic Garden, neighbours’ gardens and membership of a local rose grower group are good places to observe and get advice as to what grows well locally.
Pests and disease are always a possibility and there are any number of treatment options available. Good hygiene is one of the best management options, though, with dead-heading, cutting out damaged stems and removing old fallen flowers and rose leaf litter from the base of the bushes.
Garden Life is produced by Dunedin Botanic Garden.
For further information contact Linda Hellyer.
