Watering Roses
When the warm weather arrives it is important to keep your roses well hydrated. Our article on watering roses is a guide to keeping your roses healthy and blooming over the summer months. The amount of water required and frequency of watering will depend on the specific weather conditions and soil type.
how much water
As a guide, we recommend watering the following amount per rose each time you water:
- Shrub roses – 1 gallon
- Climbing roses – 2 gallons
- Rambling roses – 2 gallons
- Standard tree roses – 2 gallons
- Roses in pots – 1 gallon
When to water roses
The need for watering varies greatly throughout the year and is directly related to the amount of rain that has fallen. We suggest the following:
Water as needed if the ground is completely dry until the rose goes dormant.
Watch out for particularly prolonged dry spells. Newly planted roses – water every two or three days. Established roses – water once or twice a week as needed to keep the soil moist around your roses.
Established roses – water as needed to keep the soil moist around your roses. As your rose starts blooming, take note if your flowers are wilting. This will happen in extreme heat but is a reliable sign that your roses need more water. Newly planted roses – water every other day.
What You Need
The best way to water is with a watering can, so that you can see how much water you are using. If you have a lot of roses, then a hose with a rose attachment is more practical.
- It is best to water as close to base of the rose as you can. If the water is starting to flow away from the base, stop for a moment to allow the water to soak in, then continue.
- Don’t water over the flowers or foliage. Watering foliage can encourage disease problems, particularly if it remains on the leaves overnight.
- We recommend a softer spray rather than a fierce deluge from a jet spray or pressure hose. If using a hose, try to get a fitting that has a rose setting. If you haven’t got a special fitting, make sure the pressure is not too high on your hose.
Roses or situations that require extra attention:
- Newly planted roses.
- Climbing Roses planted against walls due to the dry nature of the soil in that location.
- Roses planted in sandy soil.
- Roses planted in a pot or container.