While most rose bushes love the sun, the intense afternoon heat can be a major stressor for them, especially when bud and bloom rose bushes (those growing, budded, or blooming in their nursery pots) are planted during the hotter period of the growing season.
Roses for Full Sun
Roses thrive in full sun. When they get anywhere from 6 to 8 hours of sun a day, they bloom vibrantly and to their fullest. Any variety will be spectacular when grown in these conditions. They are hardy in zones 4-9 and with the right care, can come back to thrive year after year.
Because of stress caused by the intense heat, the flowers that your rose bushes produce in mid- to late-summer are often smaller and the colors more washed out than those produced in the spring. The flowers will not last as long after they open.
It might be a good idea to provide some shade from that intense sunlight late in the afternoon. Plant a medium-sized shrub or build a pony wall in this location to provide a less intense microclimate for their growth.
Roses love sunshine, but they tend to struggle when temperatures rise above 85℉. Many of us are experiencing much hotter summers than we're used to, making the need for heat-tolerant roses increase, even in some northern climates. Roses experiencing heat stress may experience leaf scorch, wilting, and leaf loss.
While most rose bushes love the sun, the intense afternoon heat can be a major stressor for them, especially when bud and bloom rose bushes (those growing, budded, or blooming in their nursery pots) are planted during the hotter period of the growing season.
Roses are a very hardy plant. Established roses can withstand almost anything, through drought, scorching sun and even fire. However, it does not always mean they will thrive through these conditions, especially if the plant hasn't been in your garden long or is planted in a pot.
In extremely hot summer months, water every three to four days. If your rose garden is exposed to very windy conditions, the rose and the soil can dry out easily. Daily watering may be warranted. Adding a 2-3 inch layer of mulch can cool the soil down, and help to retain moisture in the soil.
Apply mulch, preferably a reflective mulch such as dry grass clippings. The first line of defense against hot weather and the windy conditions that can dry surface soil is to apply a liberal layer of mulch around the plants. This protects the soil from direct sun exposure, keeping it moist at the surface.
Watch out for particularly prolonged dry spells. Newly planted roses – water every two or three days. Established roses – water once or twice a week as needed to keep the soil moist around your roses.
ABOVE & BELOW: Heat stress shows as brown and yellow scorched leaves. Potted roses can become stressed quickly when not watered. Roses love sun, but they don't like temperatures over 85 degrees. High temperatures affect the major plant growth processes of photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration.
Rose plant is wilting may be due to excessive heat, which can stress any plant. The plant is using a tremendous amount of food and water in extreme heat and the foliage just can't keep up. Make sure your rose bush is getting adequate water without over watering, the roots don't like consistently wet soil.
1. Give your roses 1 to 2 inches of water each week in a single watering session from early spring through fall. Increase the frequency to every three or four days in hot and dry weather. Porous soils will also benefit from additional deep soakings.
Roses need at least 2 gallons of water twice per week in the growing season. Watering in the mornings is always best as it will charge the rose with water before the upcoming hot summers day. Newly planted roses need more water as the become established.
Most florists agree that flowers should last a good 7-10 days from purchase, depending on the individual variety. In extreme heat this reduces slightly but with a little extra care you should be able to enjoy them for at least a week.
They typically start to show signs of decay after a few days, but there are a few things you can do to perk them up again. Soaking cut roses in a warm water bath, feeding them, and doing regular maintenance will keep roses looking fresh and beautiful for longer.
Using vinegar in flower water can help you keep your cut flowers looking fresh and vibrant for several days longer than they would without it. Adding vinegar to flower water helps to prevent bacterial growth, which is often the culprit behind wilting flowers.
It's usually best to avoid watering your rose bushes during the heat of the day. Try to get in the habit of watering them first thing in the morning before the sun gets too high. This lets foliage dry off by the time the cooler evening air gets to them.
Yellow leaves, wilting, drooping, and stunted growth are the symptoms of overwatering. The overwatered roses can be repotted to improve aeration and drainage. The overwatered roses can have black, mushy roots that produce an unpleasant odor due to root rot.
Imagine a rose growing in sandy soil, with windy conditions, during the heat of the summer in a hot desert climate, it could require water every day. Just think if the same rose were growing in clay soil during cool coastal spring conditions, it may not need water for a month.
Hold your hose (and horse). Don't grab a hose and go to town under hot/bright/sunny day and mist/hose your roses in an attempt to cool them down. Water droplets under strong sunlight act like a magnifying glass which helps the sun penetrate and burn your rose leaves.
Prevent wilting by making sure the roots receive consistent watering, feeding, and regular weeding. Early morning waterings are better than evening watering where fungal disease may occur. Place flowering plants in a shady area to prevent wilting from excess heat.
Avoid fertilizing in extreme heat to prevent stress. Keep rose plants well-watered and wait until it cools off to re-fertilize. Apply foliar sprays to roses early in the day to allow leaves to dry out to help prevent disease.