Fall Routine: Clean up, Revitalilze, Fertilize & Prune
A 15-page, detailed, complete guide to Fall Rose Care for Houston and similar climate is here. Here's your chance to encourage some more beautiful flushes before the end of growing season.
*This guide is suitable for modern roses, NOT applicable to some antique roses, Peggy Martin rose and once blooming roses.
In this guidebook, I will be sharing with you 4 parts:
1) Cleaning up
2) Revitalizing the soil
3) Fertilizing
4) Pruning
Fall pruning is "optional" for our zone. I say "optional" because not everyone has the time and energy to do it and you don't have to feel pressured to do it if your schedule or health condition doesn't allow. Most modern roses will bloom regardless of getting pruned or not based on my observations.
Spring pruning (after 2/14) is highly encouraged and a MUST to clean up/shape up and maximize blooming power, but fall pruning is optional.
Keep in mind that you can do any order that works best for you. It's important to do it at a pace you feel comfortable and think will work best for your schedule/situation.
Be sure to check out the FAQ and Tip section
FAO and Tips
When should you finish fall pruning?
Within the 2nd or 3rd week of September (or before the end of September).
How often to do fall pruning?
Fall pruning is done ONCE in the fall, then wait to do a major Spring pruning in Feb.
If you don't have the time to do fall pruning, you can skip pruning because most modern roses will bloom even when they don't get pruned.
Is fertilization necessary?
Yes! It's highly recommended since they haven't been fed much during summer. With frequent watering, they have lost nutrients.
Giving them extra boost will go a long way.
What type of fertilizer, how and when?
Liquid Fertilizer only, until the end of October or 1st week of November. Frequency? Once a week, every other week or even once a month. This guide book includes what I fertilize with and how and when to do it properly.
Choose what works for your time/schedule/budget.
In what order should I do since I am short on time to do it all, but I want fall blooms?
Definitely a must - fertilize
Optional:
1. Pruning
2. Cleaning up is not a pressing need, but it's a great thing to do to remove foliages that are old and may be infected with diseases/pests.
3. Revitalize the soil can wait or be done between now to wintertime