Rose Care in Fall: What To Do in September

What To Do in The Garden in September

If you live in moderate to hot climates September can be a month of change in the garden. If your nights have started to turn cooler, the roses will be putting out new growth and starting to bud up for their fall display. In cold climates you will be expecting your first frost so it's time to focus on putting the roses to bed.

Cold-Climate (Zones 2-4)

1. Fertilizing. You should have stopped all fertilizing by now. Time to let the roses go dormant. Fertilizing just encourages new growth that is particularly vulnerable to cold temperatures.
2. Deadheading. Time to also stop deadheading. When you stop deadheading the roses will set hips (seed pods) and this to them means it's time to shut down for the winter. Plus hips are great for the birds during the winter.
3. Pruning. While you don't want to start any pruning or heavy trimming keep cutting out dead wood if you see it. That is an all season item.
4. Pests. Keep an eye out for pests like aphids and the like. You can hose them off with water or use something mild like insecticidal soap.
5. Health. If you see disease you can spray the infected areas with Bonide Captain Jack's Copper Fungicide available from Jackson & Perkins. That being said it's best to leave them alone. As roses start to go dormant it's quite normal to see diseases like blackspot and also leaves falling off. Don't be alarmed by that. You can rake the fallen leaves out of the beds. This time of year you want the leaves to start falling off.

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Moderate-Climate (Zones 5-7)

1. Fertilizing. Continue to feed with a liquid foliar feed like Sea Magic. Don't use a granular or a time release because you don't want to be pushing growth in the fall when the roses are trying to go dormant.
2. Deadheading. Keep deadheading to encourage that fall flower flush.
3. Timing. To know when it's time to stop all fertilizing and deadheading you'll want to know your first frost date. To know when that is google "first frost date (your zip code)." Count back 4-6 weeks and that is when it's time to stop fertilizing and deadheading.
4. Mulch. Check your mulch levels. If they are low top dress lightly to help keep the soil moist and the temperatures even.
5. Pests. Keep an eye out for pests like aphids and the like. You can hose them off with water or use something mild like insecticidal soap.
6. Health. If you see disease you can spray the infected areas with Bonide Captain Jack's Copper Fungicide available from Jackson & Perkins. Keep in mind that as roses start to go dormant it's quite normal to see diseases like blackspot and also leaves falling off. Don't be alarmed by that. You can rake the fallen leaves out of the beds. Zone 5 might start to see this in September.

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Hot-Climate (Zones 8-10)

1. Fertilizing. You are heading into your fall, and in some cases winter, bloom. Roses are heavy feeders so use a granular like Rose Tone instead of a time release. And pick up the foliar again with a product like Sea Magic. Use them both as per directions on the package.
2. Deadheading. Keep deadheading. You are coming into your fall flush and in the hotter climates your fall and winter flowering can be outstanding.
3. Mulch. Check your mulch levels. If they are low top dress lightly to help keep the soil moist and the temperatures even.
4. Pests. Keep an eye out for pests like aphids and the like. You can hose them off with water or use something mild like insecticidal soap.
5. Health. If you see disease you can spray the infected areas with Bonide Captain Jack's Copper Fungicide available from Jackson & Perkins.

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