Growing Roses in Northern Virginia

Planting

• The best month to plant a rose bush in Northern Virginia is September. Select a site that receives six to eight hours of sun per day. The plant won’t die with less sun, but it won’t produce as many roses. Space rose bushes so each has at least 1 foot of space on all sides. This allows for better air circulation, which helps prevent fungal infection. Dig a large planting hole for the rose -- at least 2 feet by 2 feet and 18 inches deep. Mix the excavated soil with the same amount of organic material such as decomposed leaves or compost. Keep the soil consistently moist for the first two weeks after planting and wait at least six weeks to fertilize.

Water

• Roses require deep, frequent watering, and soaker hoses or a drip system are the best ways of fulfilling this. How often to water the rose depends on the type of soil you have and the weather. Sandy soil requires more frequent irrigation than clay soil, and you’ll water more often in hot or windy weather. The experts at All-America Rose Selections suggests that, as a rule of thumb, give the rose 1 to 2 inches of water a week if there has been no rain or if it is particularly hot or windy. If you use a moisture meter, water when the gauge reads 40 centibars.

Fertilizer

• Wait until the rose begins producing foliage to fertilize for the first time in the season and then fertilize it once a month. This typically occurs in Northern Virginia in late March or early April. Use 1 cup of a commercial rose fertilizer, such as 6-8-6, per bush. Spread the fertilizer on the soil, 6 inches from the base of the rose, completely surrounding it. Use a rake to lightly scratch the fertilizer into the top inch of soil and water to activate the fertilizer. Fertilize for the last time during the season in September.

Pruning

• March and April are the best months to prune your Northern Virginia rose. Make all cuts back to an outward-facing bud. If your aim is to have lots of roses during the season, prune the plant to 3 to 4 feet in height. For fewer but larger flowers, prune it to 18 inches. Remove any dead canes, those that cross over others and any that are spindly.

Disease Management

• One of the most critical tasks that face Northern Virginia rose growers is spraying the plant. Wait until the rose begins producing foliage to apply a fungicide to protect against black spot, a fungal disease caused by Diplocarpon rosae and common in the region’s humid weather. Rosarians with the Potomac Rose Society suggest using liquid copper spray. Use 1.44 ounces in 1 gallon of water and spray the rose bush until all surfaces are covered. To treat the rose for powdery mildew (Podosphaera pannosa) and gray mold (Botrytis cinerea), mix 1.08 of the liquid copper fungicide in 1 gallon of water and spray the plant completely. Avoid some of the more common fungal diseases by watering the rose at the soil rather than overhead and by providing adequate air circulation around and through the plant.

Winter Protection

• A great number of roses survive Northern Virginia winters with protection. Pile soil up around the main cane to a depth of 12 inches to protect the crown and roots. To protect the branches, cover the plant with burlap or build a chicken wire cage around the plant and fill the cage with leaves until the plant is completely covered. The leaves will settle during the winter so you may need to add more.