Rose Bush Care & Maintenance

Ensure the bushes are planted in the right location. They should be at least 15 feet from the nearest tree because rose bush roots are sensitive to other living plants. Make sure you have them planted in properly draining soil as well. It is important that the rose bushes are receiving full sun. Any excess water left on the leaves after a rain can cause mildew and disease.

Add fertilizer as necessary. If it looks like your rose blooms are paler than normal, or your leaves are more brown than green, chances are that your rose bush isn’t getting enough nutrients. Be sure to loosen up the soil around the base of the bush, add the appropriate fertilizer, and water immediately.

Trim bare root rose bushes until they are only 6 to 8 inches above ground. It may seem like you are cutting out a lot of potential growth, but the root system can only support so much until the bush comes into its own.

Prune your rose bushes, but don’t chop them up. Pruning rose bushes is a delicate process. Pruning should be done when the bushes are dormant, usually between late fall and early spring. If you prune during active months, premature growth could occur, exposing young rose bush tissues to fungal and bacterial infections. Don’t prune more than half of the rose bush at one time. Remove all dead leaves and blooms.