Peter Beales Roses, RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medalists, have shared simple guidance to help gardeners keep their roses blooming until autumn, even amid a hosepipe ban. The UK has experienced successive heatwaves in recent weeks, and with hosepipe restrictions now covering most of the country, maintaining gardens has become more challenging.
Focus on pots and sunny spots
In a Facebook post, the experts said it was now "time to give your roses some extra care and attention" to ensure they continue flowering or producing hips into late summer and autumn. They stressed that after the recent heatwaves, "the most important thing you can do for your roses in August is to make sure they are getting enough water."
For those unable to water their whole garden with a watering can due to a hosepipe ban, the Rosarians recommend focusing on roses in pots and those that receive the most sun, as these are under more stress and dry out faster.
Deadheading and feeding tips
Deadheading roses once flowers have faded is the best way to keep them looking neat and encourages repeat-flowering roses to produce another flush of blooms sooner. For once-flowering roses, leaving the flower heads on allows them to produce colourful rose hips.
August is also the perfect time to give roses a feed with a slow-release fertiliser once flowers have gone over, according to the experts. This helps the plant produce an abundance of blooms on the second flush and supports it after the heatwave. Water the granular feed into the soil to ensure it is absorbed. If roses are flowering again or have buds, a liquid feed can keep them healthy and producing more flowers.
