Mid City Nursery Garden Care Guides

ROSE CARE GUIDE

Watering:
Roses require regular watering, especially during the warm summer months to do well. Roses in pots may need almost daily watering during the summer. Roses in the ground, generally require deep watering once a week or more frequent light waterings.
Fertilizing:
During the growing season, roses should be fertilized about every 6 weeks(may be more often if using a liquid fertilizer). It is important to use a fertilizer that contains iron, zinc, and magnesium or use a supplement that contains these trace minerals for best blooms. We recommend using Alfalfa Meal and Epsom Salts early in the season (around February to early March) for larger blooms. During the Spring we recommend using Master Start or the E.B. Stone Rose Food. If you have issues with insects, like aphids, you may consider using a systemic fertilizer that will feed the roses and kill the unwanted insects. To have almost continual flowering during the growing season, fertilize after completion of the each bloom cycle.

Disease Control:
The best control of diseases like blackspot, rust, powdery mildew, and downy mildew is achieved by spraying on a regular basis, especially in the spring(when most of these diseases are more prevalent). Don't wait until the rose is totally covered with disease to spray. It is much easier to eliminate the problem and keep your roses healthy by implementing a regular spraying program. There are many fungicides to select from. We recommend Monterey Liqui-Cop for control of most rose diseases. If you have severe fungus issues, we recommend the Monterey Fungi-Fighter. Whether spraying with a copper fungicide or other fungicides, it is best to spray in the morning when it is cool and make sure the plants are well hydrated before spraying. This will reduce the likelyhood of spray damage. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions when spraying.

Insect Control:
Probably the most common insect that tends to bother the roses is the aphid. They are usually found on the new growth and new rose buds. Control of these insects can be handled through several different methods. Some options are the use of a systemic rose food (a fertilizer that also contains an insecticide), releasing ladybugs in the Spring at the base of your roses, or spraying with Monterey TakeDown or other insecticide as the insects appear. When using insecticides, several applications may be required over a 7 - 14 day period to achieve best control. For further information about insect control, please ask us at Mid City Nursery.

Mid City Nursery, Inc
3635 Broadway
American Canyon, CA 94503