Special care required: how to care for roses in the garden in autumn

Autumn is a time when nature gradually enters a state of rest and relaxation, preparing the land for winter. Gardeners have a lot of work to do at this time.

At the very least, you need to prepare vulnerable plants for the cold. The publication I'm an agronomist told us what to do with roses .

Roses are one of the most favorite garden flowers. If you take proper care of them during the autumn season, they will certainly survive the cold and will delight you with their beauty next year.

Pruning and preparing for winter

In the fall, when roses continue to bloom until the first stable frost, it is important not to forget about pruning wilted flowers. Fallen petals and yellowed buds should be removed before the true leaf to encourage the plant to concentrate resources on quality buds.

However, the seed pods can be left, as this will help the plants prepare for the end of the season and not throw out new buds.

Fertilizing

The last fertilization of roses should be carried out in late summer or early fall. For this purpose, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used to help strengthen the root system and increase the frost resistance of plants.

Sprinkle about one tablespoon of fertilizer around the bush and lightly work it into the soil by loosening it.

It is important to avoid fertilizers that contain nitrogen, as they stimulate the growth of new shoots that may not have time to mature before the cold weather and freeze, which will later lead to disease.

Watering.

In the fall, watering roses should be reduced, as the heat has subsided and there is usually enough moisture in the soil even with rare rains. Frequent watering can provoke fungal diseases and unnecessary shoot growth.

Prevention of fungal diseases

In early September, it is important to spray roses against fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, rust, and black spot. Even if the foliage looks healthy, preventive treatment is necessary because the risk of disease increases significantly in the fall.

Fighting pests

Look for green caterpillars that have remained on the plants and remove them with products such as Lepidocide. If there are aphids or thrips, use a broad-spectrum product. It is important to do this before the onset of winter cold so that the pests do not have time to weaken the roses and do not start actively reproducing in the spring.

Clearing the flower garden

The last step of fall maintenance is to clear the flower garden of excess green mass. This will help improve the ventilation and lighting of the bushes. In such conditions, plants are less susceptible to disease and better tolerate winter conditions.

Remove annuals that could cover the roses, and make sure that the plants do not overgrow with weeds.

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