Last Updated on June 13, 2022 by Gary Stephen
In our garden journal, one of the trickiest flowers to keep happy is a rosebush. They have some specific needs, they have to be trimmed, and can die quite easily if not properly cared for. As such most people steer clear of keeping them at all. Which is a shame! One thing that tends to put people off is the watering regime. Often, roses will die due to overwatering or too little watering. So, how often should you water roses?
Here are a few points to consider when watering your roses.
Quick watering tips of How Often to Water Roses:
- Don’t keep your soil too wet – wet soil will be a magnet for diseases and insects.
- Don’t keep your soil too dry – too dry and your roses will become thirsty and might perish.
- Make sure the soil is the correct type – you’re looking for a loam-type soil with good fertilizer to retain the water you give, but also ensures it drains enough so that root rot does not set in.
- Keep an eye on the weather – cooler weather and you can ease up, hotter weather and you can crank it up.
Apart from being beautiful, the rose fragrance is a delight to have in any garden. And they’re not that difficult to care for, despite popular belief. But they just need a bit of extra TLC. Hence, it is surprisingly easy to ensure a happy rose bush if you know your soil, the species and the climate.
If you follow those basic tips you should be fine. But to understand why these tips are so important, we’ll take a look at soil, climate and species and how that applies to your watering schedule.
In-depth Look at How Often to Water Roses
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Soil
Before you even think of getting a rosebush, you’ll have to check your garden soil.
The soil of your garden will be the main deciding factor in how much water your roses will need, and how often you will have to give them water. A sandy-type garden will need more water, as the soil drains quicker. In turn, a loam soil-type garden will need to be watered less, as it retains moisture for longer. Clay soil is dreadful for a rose bush, and they usually die when planted in clay.
Roses prefer loam. You can easily mix some loam into your soil to ensure it will retain moisture. Your roses will be happier, and you won’t get a headache blasting water over your roses every two hours to ensure they don’t die.
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Climate also decides how often to water roses
The second most important factor is climate. The wetter the climate the less you need to water and vice versa. Sounds logical enough.
Roses prefer to grow in warm climates, but some species can survive in tropical climes, and some can even survive quite harsh winters. The type of climate, and the type of rose, will also determine your watering schedule.
In cooler weather, you can water them once a week. In hotter weather, every day will be ideal. But no matter how many times you water, make sure the water penetrates the soil deep enough to reach the roots. Just stick your finger into the soil and see how far the water has been absorbed. You can also check the soil again after the sun has to set to make sure it isn’t still wet. Otherwise, your coil might attract some unwanted pests.
A good rule of thumb is to water the garden early in the mornings to give the sun enough time to dry out the soil again.
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Species of roses affects how often should you water
There are dozens of rose species you can buy for your garden! Some are made to be kept in small patches, others like to stretch their branches. Some will need to be trimmed frequently, and others won’t like it as much.
But don’t just rush out and buy a rosebush. Take some time to read up on the different types that will work in your climate, and which ones you like best! After all, a rosebush will demand quite a bit of your time, so you need to enjoy the type of species you keep in your garden.
Here is a shortlist of some of the more popular rose bushes
1) Floribunda
The floribunda is quite popular for first-time rosebush keepers. They are easy to care for and are quite hardy. They come in quite a wide range of colors and although their flowers are small, they make up for it by growing thick clusters, which are just beautiful.
Bloom: Early summer to fall.
Zones: 4-10
Colors: Red, pink, gold, white, lavender, apricot, orange, yellow and burgundy.
- Hybrid Tea
These roses are better suited to seasoned gardeners. They demand high maintenance, are more susceptible to pests and are not as hardy. They stand on a long stem, which does make them easier to trim and care for. But if you’re new to gardening, rather get the floribunda.
Bloom: Late spring to fall
Zones: 5-9
Colors: Red, pink, gold, white, lavender, apricot, orange, yellow and burgundy.
2) Shrub
These roses spread quite magnificently and can suit a larger garden quite well. They’re not as difficult to keep as the Hybrid tea, but do have some specific care requirements because they are shrubs.
Bloom: Varies, depending on species.
Zones: 3 – 11
Color: All, except green, blue, black, green, blue, purple.
3) Climbers
These vine-type roses are excellent to give your garden an extra zing. They can, with some training and patience, grow up certain structures in your garden. They’re not as difficult to care for, they’re quite hardy, but do need to be guided to ensure they grow in the right direction.
Bloom: Late spring to winter
Zones: 2 -10
Colors: Red, pink, gold, white, lavender, apricot, orange, yellow and burgundy.
Tips on keeping your roses healthy
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Sunny spot
Roses need sunlight. Some more than others, but generally an average of around 6 hours per day is good. Different species have different needs, so when planting your rosebush make sure you know exactly what climate it prefers.
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That loam soil craving
As stated above, roses need loam-soil. It is the best type for most plants, and roses are no exception. Before buying your roses, prepare the soil to ensure that when you plant it, it has a good place to put its feet.
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Learn how to prune
A rosebush needs pruning, so you’ll have to get online, find a guide and learn how to prune if you’re going to keep your rosebush happy.
Common problems in rose bushes and How Often to Water Roses
No matter how well you take care of a rosebush, the chances of it picking up something is quite big. They are prone to pests. Here are a few common types and how to get rid of or avoid them:
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Black spots
The well-known black spot comes from a fungal disease that forms on the roses. It is usually caused by humid or wet weather climates. You can instantly recognize the fungus by its namesake; black spots forming on the leaves turn them yellow and eventually they drop off.
You’ll have to clean up the entire plant to stop the bacteria. Remove all dead leaves and infected leaves and keep an eye for any new spores within three weeks. They can survive winter, so keep a close eye during early spring. You can also spray your plant with Bordeaux Mix, neem or sulfur.
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Aphids
Aphids are tiny insects that feed on new growth. They can also be called greenfly or blackfly and often come in colonies which can grow very quickly. Look out for sticky “honeydew” or distorted flower buds on your rose bush. Or even clusters of aphids.
To get rid of them, simply turn on the hose and start blasting. A good shock of water should clean them up, but if this doesn’t work, you can try some insecticide soap.
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Rose mosaic virus
This disease sometimes manifests as broken mosaic patterns on leaves, although it doesn’t always show this symptom. Sometimes your rosebush will simply begin to suffer for no apparent reason. You can also look out for mottled flower color or yellowing veins.
The tragedy is, there is no cure for this virus. You’ll have to remove the bush as there is no way to stop it and it will die eventually.
Wrapping up about How Often to Water Roses and How to Take Care of Them
There is no set number of times you can water a rosebush, it all hinges on so many factors that you’ll have to determine that number for yourself. But however many times your roses need water, just make sure you do so. As there is nothing more pretty and calming than a garden filled with roses.
