Roses may appear wilted and weathered due to the scorching temperatures, but proper care is crucial if you wish to rescue your blooms. The flowers can easily become waterlogged if people fail to take damp soil into account, potentially leading to root rot, mould or fungal ailments like black spot.
The UK’s humid hot weather makes the heat feel particularly stifling, but this moisture also keeps soil damp for extended periods. The specialists at Treloar Roses are advising gardeners against daily watering, even during sweltering conditions. They cautioned: “Do not water daily. Keep water to twice a week for young plants and once a week for established roses.”
If you’re concerned about your roses, it’s far better to check soil dryness beforehand rather than following a rigid watering schedule.
Simply insert a finger into the soil. If it feels parched, then watering is appropriate.
Alternatively, purchasing a moisture gauge from a garden centre and using that can prove helpful.
However, it’s equally vital to avoid watering roses with sprinklers or hoses, as these tools can easily harm your flowers.
The specialist advised: “Avoid the use a handheld hoses and lawn sprinklers. Do not use soaker hoses as they will not water deep rooted plants efficiently.”
Roses are rather fragile and any water from above can damage or snap their petals, significantly reducing the lifespan of the blooms.
Often, roses are watered too hastily, resulting in the soil losing a substantial amount of moisture due to evaporation and runoff, leaving little water for the roots.
Instead, in order to maintain healthy roses, you’ll need a bucket, which can gradually drip sufficient water into the soil over time to keep the roots adequately hydrated.
All that’s required is to make five holes in the bottom of a bucket capable of holding approximately nine litres of water. Position the bucket next to your roses and fill it with ordinary tap water.
Wait until the water has fully drained from the bucket, ensuring the soil is deeply saturated without the risk of moisture loss, keeping your roses well-hydrated throughout the summer.