Watering & Mulching Roses

Other than making sure you have the right roses in the right spots, mulching is the best thing you can do to ensure healthy roses.

Mulch makes growing roses easier for a couple of reasons. It helps the soil stay cool and moist longer during hot, dry weather, so you have to water less often. And a layer of mulch over the soil effectively stops many common weeds from growing.

Plus, mulches made from organic matter (such as bark, grass clippings, rotted manure, straw, or shredded leaves) break down and improve the quality of your soil.

It's easiest if you spread mulch after you plant your roses. Most types of mulch work best if they're 1 to 3 inches deep.

Here's a hint: Don't mound mulch right up against the base of your roses. Leave a 1- to 2-inch-wide gap between the mulch and your rose stems.

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Most roses do best if they get about an inch of water each week during the growing season, depending on your soil type. Gardeners with sandy soil often find their roses need a little more water than those gardeners who deal with clay soil.

You can help keep diseases from attacking your roses (and save money on your water bills) by watering with a soaker hose. Soaker hoses slowly seep water directly at ground level -- and if you cover them with mulch, they lose very little moisture to evaporation.

Sprinklers can be problematic because they send water into the air. Wet rose foliage, especially in the evening or nighttime hours, can encourage fungal diseases. It can also be wasteful to water with sprinklers: On hot, sunny day, some of the water will evaporate before it reaches the ground.

For more tips on maintaining your roses, download our free chart on caring for roses month by month. (Requires Adobe Acrobat software.)

Rose Care January-March

Rose Care April-June

Rose Care July-September

Rose Care October-December