Roses will ‘bloom better’ and never be diseased if you do 1 simple thing in February
As the brighter weather draws closer, February is the best month to give your roses some care and attention so they can flourish in the spring. According to one gardening expert, there's one thing these flowers "need" now.
February is a make-or-break month for rose lovers. After months of dormancy, your roses need some attention to wake up and bloom beautifully in spring. If you ignore them now, they might struggle, bloom weakly, or even fail to thrive.
Many gardeners assume that roses will take care of themselves once winter ends, but that’s not the case. Proper pruning, watering, and pest control in February will ensure that your roses return with full, vibrant blooms. However, there’s one other thing these garden beauties rely on, according to gardening expert William Mitchell of Sutton Manor Nursery.
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On his gardening website, Sutton Manor Nursery, William has shared a list of gardening jobs that “must” be completed in February, and a key one is feeding roses. Roses are heavy feeders, and after winter, they need a boost with this simple 10-second task.
He said: “February is the ideal time to prepare your flowering shrubs for spring growth. The rose needs a continuous supply of nutrients throughout the growing season in order to perform at its best.”
William argued that not only do “healthy roses bloom better”, but they are also “more resistant to disease and insects”.
He advised that keeping a gardening calendar handy, where you can write down when and how you fertilise, is something that will help you stay organised.
William explained that roses usually awaken from their winter slumber in late March or early April and should be fertilised when the first buds start to sprout at the latest.
He noted: “Fertilising them with a slow-release fertiliser in February allows for early growth and protection before the first growth appears.”
Then, in late June or early July, second fertilisation is recommended for “repeat-flowering rose varieties”.
When feeding your roses, make sure to do so at the base, avoiding the leaves to prevent burns.
