Spring is the time when nature awakens and gardeners begin to prepare for the flowering season.
If you want your roses to amaze everyone with their beauty, it is important to properly “wake them up” after winter.
The first thing to pay attention to is removing the covers. Do not rush to completely remove the protection on the first warm days.
Sudden temperature changes and night frosts can damage the shoots.
Start with ventilation: open the shelter during the day and close it at night.
When the temperature stabilizes above +5 degrees Celsius, remove the material completely, but leave a light layer of mulch at the roots to protect them from sudden cold.
The next step is pruning. Remove all dry, damaged and weak shoots. Leave 3-5 strong branches, shortening them to 4-6 buds.
This will stimulate the growth of new shoots and large buds. Remember to disinfect the pruning shears before work to avoid plant contamination.
After pruning, treat the roses with copper-containing preparations to prevent fungal diseases.
The soil around the roses also requires attention. Carefully loosen the top layer of soil without touching the roots, and add a complex fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Water the bushes well, but avoid stagnant water - roses do not like over-watering. If the spring is dry, mulch the soil with compost or humus to retain moisture.
An important nuance is pest control. At the beginning of the season, roses are often attacked by aphids.
For prevention, spray the bushes with a solution of laundry soap (200 g per 10 l of water) or use biological preparations. Do not use chemicals during flowering - this will scare away bees and other beneficial insects.
And finally, do not rush to remove all the wilted leaves from last year. They can serve as additional protection from wind and sun until the plant adapts.
Remove them gradually as new shoots appear. These simple but effective steps will help your roses enter the season strong and ready for lush blooms.
Author: Igor Zur