Believe It Or Not, More Roses Suffer From This Than Any Other Problem
by Bob Bauer
Time and time again I see this problem in the front yards of many many houses wherever I travel. Roses that get to be about 2 to 3 feet high, and never get any bigger as the years go by. If your roses are getting enough sun and enough fertilizer, and are otherwise looking OK, there is only one problem that will cause this: LACK OF WATER! This is the number one most common problem in the rose garden. Now I can hear you complaining already: "But I live in a rainy climate, I don't have to water." Bull-loney! No matter how moist your climate, there will come a time when it doesn't rain on time. That is the time that your roses NEED WATER! If they don't get it they will be stressed and it will take a period of time for them to recover. Those of us who live in dry climates have to know this well, because if WE don't water regularly our roses will be dead in a month. If you learn only one thing on this website learn this one: WATER YOUR ROSES! Yes, I'm shouting it out loudly. Learn it. Be it.
Rose Problems Page
When the roots of your rose dry out completely, forget about it, your rose is a gonner. This is something that very rarely happens however. Usually drought symptoms on your rose will happen more gradually. Your rose will tell you when things get really bad here. First lets look at the symptoms of rapid drought damage. This usually occurs on potted roses that haven't been watered. If it is a hot scorching day and the plant is not absorbing enough water, the new growth will actually dessicate and dry up right on the plant. The leaves will actually get crispy and you will be able to crumble them to dust with your hands. I have seen this type of thing completely kill off all of the leaves on a plant in one day. The symptoms of slow drought damage are more subtle. It starts with the older bottom leaves turning yellow and falling off. If left unchecked your rose will lose all of its leaves and the canes will start to dry up and die. This is the slow death and even though it can result in death of the plant you have plenty of chances to save it. Even a rose that has lost all of its leaves can still be saved. But you have to act.
'Outa The Blue'
Clay soils hold water. Loamy Soils hold water. Sandy soils do not. If your soil is very sandy you are going to have to water your roses more frequently, period. Pay attention to how dry the soil is: dig down about 3 or 4 inches, if the soil is dry there, you need to water your plants.
'Sparrieshoop'
It takes a lot of work up front, but once installed, automatic drip or sprinkler systems really pay off in the time that you save by having your watering completely done automatically. It is even less work that those who live in rainy climates, because you do not have to worry about when the last rain storm was. In my climate, you can easily go a couple of months without one single drop of rain in the summer, so I absolutely depend on irrigation. My whole system is on automatic timers, so that is one thing that I never have to worry about. (Believe me, I still have plenty to do with about 350 roses! (grin)
Sooner or later it is not going to rain. You need to PAY ATTENTION to the weather. There are many who live in climates where they can depend on Mother Nature to water the plants. I guarantee that the day will come when there will not be enough rain to keep your roses thriving no matter how wet your climate. How many times have I traveled to wet places such as Seattle during a 'drought' only to see dead and dying gardens everywhere. Why? People who depend on rain for their gardens, feel somehow that it is not up to them to water their own plants when they need it. Buy A Hose! Buy a Sprinkler, Already! Buy A Watering Wand! You will eventually need these things. Stop feeling sorry for yourself that it is not raining and go outside and water your roses!