November: Send soil sample to Clemson University or other laboratory in your area. {pH check}
December: (A) Prune back all bushes (leave 3 - 4 ft. tall)
(B) Remove old mulch, old leaves, and debris
(C) Spray ground and bushes with Dormant Spray or with Double Strength Regular Insect/Disease Spray.
(D) Add lime according to soil test specifications or 1 cup per established bush.
(E) Add new mulch or hill up roses with 8 to 10 inches of soil
January: (A) Check moisture content of soil (if dry season)
(B) Make plans to enlarge rose bed
(C) Select additional Own-root roses and order
(D) Check spray supplies (purchase no more than you can use in 2 seasons)
Late February (Depending upon weather conditions)
Early March
(A) Rake back mulch from rose bushes
(B) Select Best Canes (5 to 6) and prune to 18" to 24" (leave yellow & less vigorous varieties 24" to 36" tall)
(C) Remove old, weak, dead canes.
(D) Seal all pruning cuts with glue or pruning compound.
(E) Remove all dead and dying leaves from bush and ground
(F) Scratch into the soil around each established plant:
1/2 cup blood meal, 1/2 cup super-phosphate, 1/4 cup Epson salts
[1 cup of lime, if not applied in December]
(G) Apply generous quantity of water
(H) Pull mulch back around canes...***Don't remove mounds of soil until April if you have hilled up your rose bushes; then carefully wash away soil with garden hose
(I) Spray with insect/disease spray; cover ground and canes to dripping stage.
March: (A) Begin weekly spray program for disease when new leaf growth begins and continue until killing frost in Fall
Late March: Apply: (a) 1 cup of 10-10-10 to soil around each established bush
(b) 4 to 5 shovels of manure around each established plant
(c) generous quantity of water
April: (A) Pull back mulch - Apply around each plant - and scratch into soil:
1 cup cottonseed meal, 1 cup alfalfa meal, 1 cup fish meal, 1/2 cup gypsum, and 1 tablespoon chelated iron (Fe330)
(B) Spray bushes, especially Buds, for insects if present
Late April: Apply 1 cup 10-10-10 around each established bush, then water
May: Enjoy your Spring Roses (cut roses only off established plants, 2 years old or older) Cut to a 5 leaflet to encourage new buds.
Late May: (A) Apply 1 cup 10-10-10 around each bush and water
(B) Controlled release fertilizer (Osmocote, etc.) maybe applied in place of 10-10-10 (follow package directions for amount)
May, June
July and August (A) Continue weekly spray program for disease
(B) Spray for insects only when needed
(C) Spray for spider mites as needed...water wash plants weekly
(D) Apply monthly feeding of 1 cup 10-10-10 per established plant
(E) Liquid Feed your new own-root roses once per month (don't apply granular fertilizer to first year plants)
(F) Water weekly if less than 1" of rain
2nd week
of June (A) Apply additional mulch to conserve moisture (optional)
(B) Liquid feed each bush with 1 tablespoon Peter's 20-20-20,
1 tablespoon chelated iron, 1 tablespoon Epson salts per gallon of water
1st week
of August (A) Apply another gallon of Liquid feed per bush: 1 tablespoon Peter's Fert.,
1 tablespoon chelated iron, 1 tablespoon epson salts per gallon of water
September: (A) Do not apply any other fertilizer until late March--allow bushes to harden off for better winter protection
(B) Continue Spray program weekly
(C) Continue weekly watering
October: (A) Continue spray program
(B) Water weekly if needed
Most important steps of rose care
Weekly spray program -- weekly water -- monthly fertilizer (mid-March through mid-September)