I don’t need to tell you how hot it is here in the Midwest. I’m sure you are sweating it out in your own neck of the woods. For residents in the United States and Europe, Mother Nature has made this summer one for the record books. Few have been spared from the ongoing oppressive heat wave that has blanketed hundreds of cities. The hot days and humid nights have undoubtedly taken their toll on you, your children, your pets and your yard. And, what it has done to delicate flowers, well, words like “singe,” “bake,” and “broil,” fail to adequately describe the damage they have endured as a result of the unrelenting heat.
That said, as I have mentioned in previous blogs, my grandfather was able to cultivate award-winning roses in the blistering Hawaiian heat, so it can be done. Here are some ways to help your roses get through this stressful time or year:
1. Water weekly and remove spent blooms. I have read that in extreme conditions it doesn’t hurt to water your roses every three to four days, depending on where in your yard they are located. You will obviously see more damage to a rose that is exposed to direct sunlight for the entire day than one that receives some shade.
2. Apply a well-balanced rose food.
3. Spray programs become even more critical now. Hot weather brings about black spot and mildew so it’s a good idea to apply a fungicide. However, if temperatures are running 85 degrees or hotter, you will need to reduce the amount of fungicide you are using by one-forth to avoid foliage burn.
4. Apply the last fertilizer no later than six weeks before the first frost.
5. Remember: Air circulation and dry nights also help spare blooms.
The most harmful temperatures usually peak in late July to mid-August. If your roses survive these critical times you will still have four to eight weeks of bloom time remaining.
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