Garden Care Guide

Rose Care

Rosa sp.

Prefers sunny sites and well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Widely used in gardens and as a cut flower. Pruning and regular care are needed to keep it healthy and to encourage abundant flowering. The entry you submitted, "Ardis brunniventris", is an insect that damages roses.

Hardy · -25 °C / -13 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Pruning: Perform a hard prune at the end of the month: remove old, weak and diseased branches, leaving 3–5 main branches.
  • Plant protection: After pruning, apply Bordeaux mixture or dormant oil (mineral oil) to the trunk and branches.
  • General care: Aerate the soil around the roots.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the trunk for scale insects.
  • Frost risk: Covering the root collar with soil or mulch protects it during severe frost.
February
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: At month end, work well-rotted manure or compost into the soil.
  • Pruning: With clean, sharp tools, first remove dead, diseased, broken and rubbing branches. If the rose class is unknown, do not hard-prune; climbing, shrub and once-blooming roses are pruned differently. Skip if: a severe frost is expected in the coming days, or the rose is known to be an old garden rose or once-blooming climber.
  • Plant protection: If dormant oil has not been applied, it can be done at the start of the month.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: After pruning, check the trunks.
  • Frost risk: Young shoots may be damaged by late frosts.
March
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer as the plant emerges from dormancy.
  • Pruning: With clean, sharp tools, first remove dead, diseased, broken and rubbing branches. If the rose class is unknown, do not hard-prune; climbing, shrub and once-blooming roses are pruned differently. Skip if: a severe frost is expected in the coming days, or the rose is known to be an old garden rose or once-blooming climber.
  • Plant protection: Begin monitoring for powdery mildew and black spot; if needed, apply a protective fungicide (e.g. sulfur).
  • General care: While the soil is moist, spread well-matured compost or suitable organic mulch around the root zone (5–8 cm per plant). Do not press mulch against the trunk or branch bases; leave an open ring for air. Skip if: the root collar is wet, the soil is waterlogged, or there is a drainage problem.
  • Pests & diseases: Aphids may appear on new shoots.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Fertilizing: A balanced NPK fertilizer (e.g. 15-15-15) can be applied.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: While the soil is moist, spread well-matured compost or suitable organic mulch around the root zone (5–8 cm per plant). Do not press mulch against the trunk or branch bases; leave an open ring for air. Skip if: the root collar is wet, the soil is waterlogged, or there is a drainage problem.
  • Pests & diseases: Check both leaf surfaces, fresh shoots, and fallen leaves. Collect spotted leaves or heavily diseased debris separately, and avoid overhead watering that leaves foliage wet overnight. Skip if: the plant is fully dormant and has no leaves.
May
  • Watering: Apply water slowly directly to the root zone rather than spraying leaves and flowers (5–10 L per plant). Instead of frequent, shallow watering, give one deep irrigation that soaks the root zone. Skip if: recent rain has soaked the root zone or the soil is still moist. Also skip if the soil is saturated or drainage is poor.
  • Fertilizing: A potassium (K)-dominant liquid fertilizer may be applied to encourage flowering.
  • Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage rebloom.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering begins. Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone. It conserves soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Keep the mulch away from the stem.
  • Pests & diseases: Check both leaf surfaces, fresh shoots, and fallen leaves. Collect spotted leaves or heavily diseased debris separately, and avoid overhead watering that leaves foliage wet overnight. Skip if: the plant is fully dormant and has no leaves.
June
  • Watering: Apply water slowly directly to the root zone rather than spraying leaves and flowers (5–10 L per plant). Instead of frequent, shallow watering, give one deep irrigation that soaks the root zone. Skip if: recent rain has soaked the root zone or the soil is still moist. Also skip if the soil is saturated or drainage is poor.
  • Fertilizing: Apply the second fertilizer dose during the growing season. Do not fertilize after August; late growth will not survive winter.
  • Pruning: Continue removing spent flowers.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Check both leaf surfaces, fresh shoots, and fallen leaves. Collect spotted leaves or heavily diseased debris separately, and avoid overhead watering that leaves foliage wet overnight. Skip if: the plant is fully dormant and has no leaves.
July
  • Watering: Apply water slowly directly to the root zone rather than spraying leaves and flowers (5–10 L per plant). Instead of frequent, shallow watering, give one deep irrigation that soaks the root zone. Skip if: recent rain has soaked the root zone or the soil is still moist. Also skip if the soil is saturated or drainage is poor.
  • Fertilizing: Reduce or stop fertilizing during extreme heat.
  • Pruning: Remove spent flowers.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Check both leaf surfaces, fresh shoots, and fallen leaves. Collect spotted leaves or heavily diseased debris separately, and avoid overhead watering that leaves foliage wet overnight. Skip if: the plant is fully dormant and has no leaves.
August
  • Watering: Apply water slowly directly to the root zone rather than spraying leaves and flowers (5–10 L per plant). Instead of frequent, shallow watering, give one deep irrigation that soaks the root zone. Skip if: recent rain has soaked the root zone or the soil is still moist. Also skip if the soil is saturated or drainage is poor.
  • Fertilizing: Do not fertilize.
  • Pruning: Remove only spent flowers and dead branches.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Check both leaf surfaces, fresh shoots, and fallen leaves. Collect spotted leaves or heavily diseased debris separately, and avoid overhead watering that leaves foliage wet overnight. Skip if: the plant is fully dormant and has no leaves.
September
  • Watering: Apply water slowly directly to the root zone rather than spraying leaves and flowers (5–10 L per plant). Instead of frequent, shallow watering, give one deep irrigation that soaks the root zone. Skip if: recent rain has soaked the root zone or the soil is still moist. Also skip if the soil is saturated or drainage is poor.
  • Fertilizing: A potassium (K)-rich fertilizer can be applied for autumn flowering; do not overdo it.
  • Pruning: Light summer pruning can encourage autumn flowering.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Check both leaf surfaces, fresh shoots, and fallen leaves. Collect spotted leaves or heavily diseased debris separately, and avoid overhead watering that leaves foliage wet overnight. Skip if: the plant is fully dormant and has no leaves.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Pruning: Remove only spent flowers; avoid hard pruning.
  • Plant protection: Final applications against fungal diseases can be made.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Check both leaf surfaces, fresh shoots, and fallen leaves. Collect spotted leaves or heavily diseased debris separately, and avoid overhead watering that leaves foliage wet overnight. Skip if: the plant is fully dormant and has no leaves.
  • Frost risk: Risk is low in temperate regions.
November
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: A final Bordeaux mixture application can be made.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting. Collect fallen leaves; many disease agents and pests overwinter under them.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the trunk for pests that overwinter.
  • Frost risk: In cold regions, begin covering the root collar with soil.
December
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Pruning: Not necessary; wait until January for hard pruning.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: General check.
  • Frost risk: Complete root collar protection.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.

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