Rose Care

The climate has a lot to do with the way you care for your roses. The care of roses may be different in your area. The climate in the Redding, California area has mild winters (rarely under 30 degrees), but extremely hot summers (over 100 degrees). The rose care on this page is not in-depth information, just the basics.

Anyone is welcome to attend Shasta Rose Society meetings, or E-Mail one of our Consulting Rosarians with questions on rose care.

In our area, pruning and planting of bare-root roses needs to be completed by the end of February. When planting, choose the proper location. Most roses need at least six hours of direct sunlight (morning sunlight preferred, afternoon filtered shade). Roses also need good air circulation. When pruning, clean up the ground under the roses, discarding all clippings and leaves, (diseased leaves left around the rose can re-infect the new growth). The canes and ground should be treated with a dormant spray to control disease. Frequency and method of spraying should be in accordance with the label.

By March, new growth starts to appear. The application of fertilizer should be applied when the new growth is about two inches long. Apply fertilizer every four to six weeks during the growing season, (this may vary, depending on the type of fertilizer used, read and follow all directions).

Along with the new growth come the insects and diseases. Decide on a method of control or prevention and be regular in the use of it, (again, follow directions).

(For more information on bugs and diseases go
to: Baldo Vallegas' Bugs and diseases)

Water is probably the most important thing in growing roses. Keep the ground around your roses damp, but not soggy. Roses need 2 to 3 inches of water a week. It's best to water three or four times each week and it's best to water in the morning. Getting the foliage wet late in the day promotes diseases.

To encourage new bloom, the old bloom must be cut off the plant. This is called "dead-heading". Before the bloom starts to fall apart, cut it off to about 1/4 inch above a "five leaf" leaflet, cutting at a slant, away from the leaflet.

For more information on rose care in the Redding area, contact one of our Consulting Rosarians listed below.

Diane Babb ---Hookedongardens@ hotmail.com
Mary Lynn Bononi ------ ---@[email protected]
Dean* & Barbara [email protected]
Barrie Freeman--------- ------- [email protected]
Donal [email protected]
Hal & Lucille [email protected]
Bob* & Sandy* [email protected]
Carol Schmitz [email protected]
Karen [email protected]
Linda [email protected]

Corning

Liisa [email protected]

Sacramento Area

Duane* & Melody [email protected]

San Francisco Bay Area

Susan Turk*[email protected]

*Master Rosarian