Overwatering Rosebushes and Yellow Leaves

Location Selection

• Plant roses in a sunny location where they're shielded from wind. Roses typically need at least six hours of direct sunlight to grow and develop. Roses prefer nutrient-rich loam soil that also provides good drainage. Place roses in raised beds rather than planting them in soil where the water table is high to prevent root saturation. Avoid soil with high concentration of alkali salts and chemicals that can restrict root growth.

Watering Requirements

• In general, rosebushes need only a moderate amount of water, about enough to supply moisture to their roots. If you overwater newly transplanted roses from the start, their roots don't fully establish and plant growth is often hindered. You should create a temporary irrigation basin around the plant until roots establish, about three to four weeks after transplanting, then cover the basin with soil. Once roots establish, water around the plant as opposed to its stem to prevent overwatering. Supplying roots with too much water encourages them to absorb water faster than the plant needs it and causes foliage to yellow.

Watering Penetration Depths

• Supply enough water to rosebushes so that the soil is moist about 2 feet below the surface. An inch of water is usually enough to reach a depth of 12 inches below the surface in loam soils and about 6 to 10 inches in clay soils. Refrain from irrigating roses again until their soil is dry and foliage starts to curl.

Watering Schedule

• Loose, sandy soil doesn't hold water longer than 10 days during the summer growing season. Yet it's not uncommon for rosebushes to show signs of dehydration in as short as six days, depending on temperature conditions. Loam soils are slightly better at retaining water than sandy soils. Roses planted in loam soil need water every eight to 15 days on average. However, during periods of drought and high winds, soils tend to absorb water more quickly and roses might require additional water. Test soil by touching it to feel for dryness. Dry soil should crumble easily in your hand.