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This rose care program, used for several years, has been successful in growing healthy roses which produce many blooms. It will help the homeowner control diseases and insects associated with roses.

Suggested Schedule

January

  • Order new rose bushes.
  • Get a soil test. Broadcast Dolomitic Lime if recommended by soil test. (Also can be done in Feb. or autumn.)

February

  • Order new rose bushes.
  • Get a soil test. Broadcast Dolomitic Lime if recommended by soil test. (Also can be done in Feb. or autumn.)

March

  • Week 1 – Prune all roses that repeat bloom throughout the growing season or in
  • Week 2 – Prune all roses that repeat bloom throughout the growing season.
  • Week 3 – Remove debris from under each rose and spray cane and soil with Daconil.

April

  • Week 1 – Spray Daconil. Apply Espoma Rose Tone, Epsom Salts, Nitrate of Soda (fertilizers).
  • >Week 2 – Apply Bayer Advanced Tree/Shrub Insect Control. Apply fertilizer: 3 cups Purely Organic around each bush.
  • Week 3 – Spray Daconil. Check for Aphids (spray insecticidal soap, if needed).
  • Week 4 – Check for Aphids (spray insecticidal soap, if needed) and repeat weekly, if needed.
  • All Weeks – To prevent powdery mildew, spray Erase weekly.

May

  • Week 1 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx; Espoma Rose Tone & Epsom Salts.
  • Week 2 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves.
  • Week 3 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx.
  • Week 4 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves.
  • Week 5 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx.
  • Week 5 – Check for Japanese beetles and thirps for the next 8 weeks.

June

  • Week 1 – Prune one time blooming roses after bloom.
  • Week 1 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Espoma Rose Tone & Epsom Salts (fertilizers). Check for beetles & thrips.
  • Week 2 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx. Check for beetles & thrips.
  • Week 3 – Check for beetles & thirps.
  • Week 4 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx. Check for beetles & thrips.

July

  • Week 1 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Check for beetles & thrips.
  • Week 2 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx. Check for beetles & thrips.
  • Week 3 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Check for beetles & thrips.
  • Week 4 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx. Check for beetles & thrips.
  • Week 5 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx. Check for beetles & thrips.

August

  • Week 1 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx; Espoma Rose Tone & Epsom Salts.
  • Week 2 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves.
  • Week 3 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx.
  • Week 4 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves.

September

  • Week 1 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx; Espoma Rose Tone & Epsom Salts.
  • Week 2 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves.
  • Week 3 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx.
  • Week 4 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves.

October

  • Week 1 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx; Espoma Rose Tone & Epsom Salts.
  • Week 2 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves.
  • Week 3 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx.
  • Week 4 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves.
  • Week 5 – Deadhead/remove diseased leaves. Apply Pentathlon DF/Banner Maxx.

Autumn

  • Remove black spot leaves from bush and ground.
  • Prepare new rose bed.
  • Get a soil test. (Also can be done in Jan. or Feb.)

November

  • Week 1 – Deadhead/remove infected leaves. Apply Lime-Sulfur.
  • Week 2 – Prune out dead or diseased canes. Leave old blooms and rose hips.
  • Week 3 – Apply Lime-Sulfur

December

  • Week 1 – Climbing roses – secure canes to supports.
  • Week 2 – Spray dormant oil (V olck)
  • Week 3 – Mound wood mulch (12–18 inches) if 2 hard frosts (28 degrees) occurred. Broadcast 1⁄2 cup wood ashes per plant.

Fungicide Directions

Daconil 2787 (Chlorothalonil): Use 1 tablespoon per gallon of water. Heavily spray canes, top and bottom of leaves, and mulch.
Banner Maxx & Pentathlon DF(Manzate): Add 1 tablespoon of Indicate 5 (surfactant) per 2 gallon sprayer; then fill the sprayer with water almost full. Add 1 tablespoon of Pentathlon DF per gallon and 1/3 teaspoon BannerMaxx per gallon into sprayer; then fill sprayer with water. Spray canes, top and underside of leaves.
Lime-Sulfur: Use 8 tablespoons per gallon of water. Spray top and underside of leaves and canes.
Volck Dormant Oil: Use 10 tablespoons per gallon of water. Spray top and underside of leaves and canes.

Insecticide Directions

Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect Control 12 month concentrate (imidacloprid): Use 1 oz. per gallon of water per rose
bush poured under canopy for thrips and Japanese beetles.

Fertilizing Directions

Espoma Rose Tone (organic fertilizer): Use 3⁄4 cup per rose. Broadcast 6 inches out from crown/main canes.
Nitrate of Soda (16-0-0): Use 1 tablespoon per rose bush. Broadcast 6 inches out from crown/main canes.
Epsom Salts: Use 1 tablespoon per rose bush. Broadcast 6 inches out from crown/main canes.

Carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the label for all pesticides. Trade and brand names are used only for information. The Cooperative Extension, The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences does not guarantee or warrant the standard of any product mentioned; neither does the use of a trade or brand name imply approval of any product to the exclusion of others which also may be suitable.

Watering

Roses require 4 gallons of water per week from mid-March through November. Irrigate if there is insufficient rain. Avoid overhead irrigation; soaker hoses or hand watering is preferred.

Additional information on rose culture – selection, planting, pruning, etc. – is available from the Cobb County Extension. Call 770-528-4070.

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