Roses may be wilting in the hot weather, but there is one thing you need to make sure you are not doing if you want to save your flowers
While the sizzling weather might have your roses looking a tad wilted, gardeners are being urged to resist the temptation to water them every day. Experts from Treloar Roses are sharing top tips on how to keep your blooms thriving.
They said: “Do not water daily. Keep water to twice a week for young plants and once a week for established roses.”
With the notorious British summer humidity trapping moisture in the air, the ground remains wetter than you might expect. As a result, watering too much can actually do more harm than good, leading to soggy conditions ripe for root rot, mould, or diseases such as black spot.
For those fretting over their floral friends, the experts recommend a hands-on approach: test the soil’s dryness before deciding whether to water.
A simple prod with a finger into the earth can ascertain whether it’s time for a drink, or if you should hold off, reports the Express.
Alternatively, to avoid guesswork, a moisture meter from your local garden centre can be handy.
However, while a number of handy gadgets to make a gardeners’ life easier are available, Treloar Roses has urged caution here too.
The experts said: “Avoid the use a handheld hoses and lawn sprinklers. Do not use soaker hoses as they will not water deep rooted plants efficiently.”
Roses are rather fragile, and any water sprinkled on them from above can damage or snap their petals, significantly reducing the lifespan of the blooms.
Often, roses are watered too hastily, resulting in the soil losing a substantial amount of moisture due to evaporation and runoff, leaving little water to reach the roots.
Instead, if you’re aiming to maintain healthy roses, you need a bucket. This method allows for a slow drip of water into the soil over time, ensuring the roots are adequately hydrated.
All you need to do is to make five holes in the base of a bucket capable of holding approximately nine litres of water. Position it next to your roses and fill it with tap water.
Wait until the water has fully drained from the bucket. This method deeply saturates the soil without risking any moisture loss, keeping your roses well-hydrated throughout the summer.