Consulting Rosarian Report
August 2026
By Royal Krieger, Morcom’s Rosarian
What do for your roses in August
by Royal Krieger, ARS Consulting Rosarian to Morcom Rose Garden
Late July to early August is when I prepare my roses for an abundant September through October bloom. This warm period, called an “Indian Summer,” is great for roses. Here’s what I do to prepare.
(1) I start the process by hose washing my plants in the AM which gives them plenty of time to dry. (2) The next day, I start by removing “junk growth” from the base, plus weak and dead canes. I also selectively remove canes growing toward the center. This is especially applicable to hybrid teas, generally somewhat less so for floribunda class roses. I also shape the overall plant if needed. (3) Next, I remove all dead and diseased leaves, something I’ve been doing throughout the year. This,, I know, may be a big job, but it pays dividends by reducing disease. (4) Next, I weed and remove all debris from beds. (5) Finally, I spray the roses and ground with a horticultural oil with possibly some copper additive, if needed.
Throughout the year, I monitor the moisture depth of the beds, especially in the warm months. Nothing stresses roses more than uneven moisture. The roses may be getting enough water one day, but then the soil dries out before they are watered again. This cycle of wet soil followed by dry soil stresses the plants. Roses don’t like to sit in water, but they do crave consistent moist roots in order to absorb nutrients and hydrate. When I do rose consulting, I find the #1 reason for rose problems is inadequate watering. I’m a big fan of berms around roses. The size of the berm should be at least just beyond the drip line. This is especially important if roses are planted on non-level ground. If the garden has an automatic watering system, the system may be inadequate. Supplementing the watering system by hose filling the berms often improves plant performance.
As we head into autumn, some roses may somewhat change color. This can happen for various reasons. Probably the most common reason is the angle of the sun, which is now lower during the day. Water stress, nutrient issues or plant aging can also be reasons for color change in roses. In most cases, color change is nothing to be concerned about, so enjoy the show.