Roses Unlimited Rose Care Program
November: Send soil sample to Clemson University or other laboratory in your area. {pH check}
December: (A) Prune back bushes (leave 4 ft. tall) (reduces winter wind damage)
(B) Remove diseased leaves and debris
(C) Spray ground and bushes with Dormant Spray or with Insect/Disease Spray.
(D) Add lime according to soil test specifications or 1 cup per established bush.
(E) Hill up roses with 8 inches of soil if needed for winter protection...
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 / Early March : (Depending upon weather conditions in your growing area)
(A) Rake back mulch from rose bushes
(B) Select Best Canes (5 to 6){depends upon rose variety} and prune to 30" (leave yellow & less vigorous varieties 36" tall - certain shrubs & old garden roses maybe left 48" or more)
(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) ***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 spray program for disease when new leaf growth begins and continue until killing frost in Fall..( Type of spray program will depend upon rose varieties ).
Late March: Apply: (A) 1 cup of 10-10-10 to soil around each established bush
(B) Controlled release fertilizer ( BloomKote ) maybe applied in place of
10-10-10 ( follow package directions for amount ).
(C) 4 to 5 shovels of manure around each established plant
(D) generous quantity of water
Early April: (A) Pull back mulch - Apply around each established plant - and scratch into soil:
2 cups of Mills' Magic Mix
{ Call To Order - 1-800-845-2325 }
1/2 cup gypsum, and 1 tablespoon chelated iron (Fe330)
******* Allow 2 weeks between each application of fertilizer *******
{ Mill's Easy Feed & 10-10-10 }
(B) Spray bushes, especially Buds, for insects if present
Mid-April: Liquid Feed your established rose plants. We recommend Mill's Easy Feed
Liquid Feed your new own-root roses once per month (don't apply granular fertilizer to first year plants or container plants)
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
May & July
(A) Continue 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
(F) Liquid Feed your established rose plants once per month.
(G) Water weekly if less than 1" of rain
June: (A) Apply additional mulch to conserve moisture (optional)
(B) Liquid feed each bush with 1 tablespoon Mill's Easy Feed,
1 tablespoon chelated iron, 1 tablespoon Epson Salts per gallon
of water.
(C) Apply monthly feeding of 1 cup 10-10-10 per established plant
August: (A) Apply another gallon of Liquid feed per bush: 1 tablespoon of Mill's
Easy Feed, 1 tablespoon chelated iron, 1 tablespoon Epson Salts
per gallon of water.
(B) Apply & scratch into soil..2 cups of Mill's Magic Rose Mix.
Late-August (A) Apply monthly feeding of 1 cup 10-10-10 per established plant.
September: (A) Do not apply any other fertilizer until late March--allow bushes to harden
off for better winter protection.
(B) Continue Spray program
(C) Continue weekly watering
October: (A) Continue spray program - until killing frost or freeze in your area.
(B) Water weekly if needed
Most important steps of rose care.....
Weekly water - monthly fertilizer (late March through August) - Your Spray Program