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Aphids are small insects that feed on your rose’s sap. They can also transmit plant diseases, as well. Luckily, there’s an easy fix. You can get rid of most aphids with a strong spray of water and a follow-up with some insecticidal soap or neem oil to help prevent future infestations. One of the best natural ways to avoid aphids on roses is to grow a diverse range of plants that keep aphids at bay, like lavender, marigolds and calendula.
Thrips are tiny, slender insects that can damage your roses by feeding on plant tissue, causing distorted growth and silvering of leaves. Thrips hate water, so a strong spray of water is effective for removing them. If you have a persistent case of thrips, prune and discard the affected blooms and apply insecticide.
Spider mites feed on rose plants by piercing cell walls and sucking out the contents, leading to stippled, discoloured leaves. This is another pest that can be dealt with by spraying them with water, followed up by an application of insecticidal soap or neem oil to control infestations. Ensure proper plant hygiene by removing and disposing of heavily infested leaves.
Black spot is a common fungal disease affecting roses, characterised by dark, circular lesions on leaves that lead to premature leaf dropping. The best way to avoid it is by planting your roses with enough space between them for optimum air circulation. If you're facing this issue with roses that have already been planted, prune off excess growth and affected leaves to increase the airflow around your plants. Make sure you dispose of these leaves to stop the disease from spreading.
To reduce the humidity that causes black spot to appear, make sure you water the soil and not the foliage. Apply fungicides early in the season as a preventive measure or when symptoms first appear.
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that appears as a white, powdery substance on rose leaves, stems and buds. To prevent powdery mildew, plant disease-resistant rose varieties, or plant roses in sunny locations with good air circulation.
If you see signs of powdery mildew, apply neem oil or sulphur-based treatments. Make sure you prune regularly and remove infected plant parts to reduce the spread of the disease.
Spring is the perfect time to prune and shape your rose bushes for healthy growth. Use a pair of clean pruning shears and trim the stems at a 45-degree angle just above an outward-facing bud. Deadhead any spent flowers as this will encourage more continuous blooming for the remainder of the season.
Begin fertilising your roses when new leaves appear, using a high nitrogen organic fertiliser and switching to a slow-release fertiliser when the shoots are approximately 10cm long. Mulch around the base of the plants with something like sugar cane mulch to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Steer clear of mulch that will alter the pH too much (varieties that contain eucalyptus or pine needles, for example).
Summer is the peak blooming time for roses. Make sure they don’t get dehydrated by watering them deeply at soil level in the morning. This will allow the soil plenty of time to soak up the water before the sun hits.
It’s also a good idea to apply a new layer of mulch to help conserve soil moisture and keep your roses cooler. Continue to monitor for any signs of pests or diseases, and keep deadheading spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering. If you live in a hot climate, protect roses from extreme heat by providing afternoon shade if possible.
Autumn and winter care for roses is all about preparing your roses for dormancy so they can make a vibrant and healthy comeback in the spring. In late autumn, continue deadheading and reduce fertilising so you can taper off your roses’ growth. Gradually reduce watering as the weather cools down, but make sure the soil is still damp to prevent dehydration. Once winter hits, give your roses a nice blanket of mulch and cover the plants with a layer of straw or burlap to keep them warm.
If you’re wondering how and when to prune roses, winter is the best time. Pruning will encourage strong new canes and give you some robust growth in spring with lots of blooms. Sanitise your gardening shears to prevent the spread of any disease. Remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches, shaping the plant and reducing its height to prevent wind damage. Discard all fallen leaves and debris and make sure you sterilise your shears again when you finish.
Check out how to grow and care for roses.
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
