Connecticut Rose Growing Planning Calendar- Big Picture

 

 
Month Garden Emphasis Insects Disease Planning If exhibit in late June
Jan Snow as winterizing insulation.    

Select New Roses from Internet and catalogs. Consider how you will expand the rose hobby in the coming year: more, better, photography, exhibiting?
 

 
Feb       Select New Roses from Internet and catalogs
 
 
Mar If using cones, remove tops on hot days. Replace at night. Some people recommend dormant spray at this time.
 
  Sharpen and Clean tools  
April Slowly remove winter protection from old, plant new bare root roses.  Prune.   Keep garden clean from past diseased leaves and stems.
 
   
May Fertilize old, plant new nursery roses from containers. Continue periodic pruning as needed. Cover pruning wound with pruning wax or white glue. Aphids.  Possible leaf cutter bees and caterpillars. Cane boring insects at the pruning cut. Mildew and perhaps Black Spot.  Commence defensive fungal spray program now.
 
  Inventory Show materials and tools
June Fertilize old.  Water as needed. Pick roses for vases.  Deadhead. Aphids.  Possible leaf cutter bees and caterpillars. Black Spot. Pile grass clippings for compost. Look for possibles. Special fertilizing timed for the Show, perhaps.
 
Jul Fertilize. Water. Deadhead. Japanese Beetles. Black Spot. Some mildew. Pile grass clippings for compost. Visit/enter Rose shows in neighbor states
 
Aug Last fertilizer early in the month. Water as needed. Japanese Beetles. Powdery Mildew. Black Spot. Pile grass clippings for compost. Special pruning for fall rose shows (about 45 days prior)
 
Sep Continue removing diseased leaves from the garden.
 
Fewer Japanese Beetles Powdery Mildew. Black Spot. Pile well-mulched leaves for compost. Fall rose shows occur.
Oct     Less Powdery Mildew. Black Spot.
 
Pile well-mulched leaves for compost.  
Nov Winterize in late Nov. or early Dec.     Dig rose holes for next spring's plantings before ground freezes and while ground can be easily worked. Remove the rocks and when hole is ready cover solidly with plywood (or refill with loose soil and mark the location).
 
 
Dec Complete winterizing. Not insects, but voles may be a problem under winterizing materials.  They keep warmer, but eat rose roots.   Select New Roses from Internet and catalogs.  Read good rose book.