It's All About The Flowers: Coaxing The Best Blooms From Your Roses

Next month is Rose Month, when the roses need very little encouragement to bloom their heads off. That may be so, but with the right treatment in September the roses will delight not only in October but can also be set up to flower well for the rest of the season.

- Ludwig Taschner

Give more water

Roses grow faster in September than at any other time, and for that they need deep watering. Water availability at root level, especially now, determines the length of the stems and the size of leaves and flowers. It also develops a strong bush with new basal stems and strong roots, making it more resilient to adverse conditions. Water twice a week and mulch the surface of the soil to keep it cool and moist. If the soil is compact or was not improved after pruning, dig in organics (including compost) to a depth of 30cm. This allows water to easily reach the roots. Drench after digging.

Extend the flowering by finger pruning

Remove a third of all new shoots just before the shoots form a flower bud. This extends the flowering flush so that it appears as if the flush has lasted twice as long. This staggered flowering is carried on throughout the season.

New growth starts from the top of the pinched shoots and will be growing when the other un-pinched shoots are flowering. It’s also good for the roots because the roots are encouraged to absorb a balance of nutrients for new growth and flower development. It encourages new basal shoots, which gives the bush its framework for the new season.