Spring rose care

Here are some spring rose care tips:

• Control disease If leaves are already becoming infected by black spot, pick off and bin affected foliage and begin applying a rose insecticide/fungicide spray or a bicarb soda/oil remedy. This same treatment will help control powdery mildew, another fungal disease that affects some rose varieties.
• Beat pests Aphids, enemy number one, cluster on new shoots, where they can be easily squashed. Plague thrips are tiny insects that spoil light-coloured flowers, especially at this time of year. Fortunately, their activity usually diminishes as the season advances. Even more destructive is the chilli thrip, a relatively new pest found in Western Australia that causes distortion, discolouration and bud deformity. Prune badly infested plants and spray with an insecticidal soap or oil. Bag and bin all prunings.
• Feed Roses are hungry plants that need to be well fed to support all that flower production. It’s best to use an organic-based, specific rose fertiliser as it will have a blend of nutrients that will encourage growth, flower production and disease resistance.
• Pick Don’t forget to keep picking your roses. This will allow you to enjoy them indoors and, as a bonus, promote more flowers.

For more rose care tips, read our helpful guide, Growing Roses 101.

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