This guide is for our gardeners growing roses in the Pacific Northwest. For other areas, please feel free to contact Heirloom Roses for assistance with the particular needs of your local climate.

January

• Planning and preparation: conduct soil tests, gather catalogs and books to get ideas, prepare new planting sites, build or reinforce structural supports for climbers.

February

• Sharpen and maintain gardening tools, prune roses (second half of month) followed by dormant spray, transplant dormant roses if weather permits and soil is workable.

March

• Finish all spring pruning, weed planting beds, install or repair irrigation systems, finish any transplanting.

April

• Continue weeding, apply compost or mulch to planting beds, first application of fertilizer, check for fungal diseases like black spot, remove infected leaves.

May

• First blooms of season, apply monthly fertilizer, plant potted roses, patrol for aphids, continue sanitation methods or spraying for fungal diseases if required, weed.

June

• Take softwood cuttings or layer new plants, plant potted roses, collect blooms for bouquets, deadhead spent blooms, apply monthly fertilizer, continue spray program.

July

• Apply supplemental water as needed, loosen any compacted soil, apply monthly fertilizer, continue checking for pests and diseases (especially spider mites).

August

• Prune once-flowering roses after blooming is finished, apply supplemental water as needed, final fertilizer application mid-month, final deadheading and cleanup.

September

• Enjoy final blooms of season, continue to check for pests and diseases, monitor water requirements, rake up and discard all fallen leaves and petals from the ground, weed.
• Remember, fall is a great time for planting new roses in your garden.

October

• Discontinue watering, leave spent blooms to induce dormancy, cleanup all litter and debris, apply liquid fall fertilizer if desired (no-N), defoliate roses at end of month.

November

• Lightly winter prune roses to remove ragged growth and prevent wind damage, apply seasonal mulch for winter protection, ok to transplant roses if weather permitting.

December

• Apply dormant sprays or oil to bare canes, review drainage during winter storms and flag low-lying or wet areas, plan next year’s additions to rose garden.