Roses need a lot more care when the temperature rises than simply watering, so it is important to prepare them now in June if you want them to flower this summer. When the weather heats up, roses lose moisture quickly through transpiration and the soil drying out which can cause their petals to wilt.
If you do not protect your rose plants then you can shorten their flower production as their blooms will fade and drop due to the heat. However, Tat, a gardener and founder of Roses In Houston, has shared there is a better way to keep roses hydrated without having to hover around them with a watering can.
Tan said: “We all hear this advice to water, water and water during summer. But what if there is no rain and water restrictions in place? Does that mean it’s the end of rose-gardening and we should call it quits?”
Instead, Tat has shared the best way to keep roses watered is to mulch them, which is the simple gardening technique of covering the topsoil around plants with material to protect them.
She added: “Put on multiple layers of mulch (about two inches) at the base of your roses. Mulch helps retain moisture so that water and moisture won’t escape from soil too fast after watering.
“I prefer all-natural, no-dye version of mulch like hardwood and cedar so when they break down, it’s better for the soil.”
Mulching roses slows down evaporation, which helps the soil retain more moisture, and helps keep the roses watered throughout summer. Mulch also insulates the soil to stop it overheating so the plant roots stay cool and undamaged no matter how hot it is outside.
Hardwood is excellent at holding water and tends to be the best mulch to use if you need to keep roses hydrated for longer without watering them.
If you are going on holiday or are likely to have hose restrictions in your area this summer then consider using hardwood mulch.
However, cedar mulch also retains some water but also contains oils that have natural pest repellent so can help stop ants, aphids, rose slugs and spider mites nibbling on your rose petals.
If you are going to be home and can water roses regularly this summer then consider using cedar mulch too help keep roses healthy.
No matter how you mulch your roses make sure to water your roses deeply in the summer a few times a week to ensure they continue to bloom throughout their growing season
The best time to water roses is early in the morning before 9am or late in the evening after 6pm when the sun has not risen to reduce evaporation to help keep roses flowering for longer.