Are your roses turning yellow and drooping? Weather can be unpredictable, challenging the most resilient roses, and gardeners alike, resulting in these symptoms. Floods, intense heat and dry drought spells impact the roses in our gardens. Understanding what is happening beneath the surface and knowing how to respond can make a real difference in your plants.
Flooding Stress
My Plants Are Or Were Under Water
Heavy rains, flash flooding as well as overwatering and low garden areas may play a part in causing excessively wet soil conditions. Heavy and compact clay soil compounds the problem by slowing drainage and holding moisture far longer than the roots can tolerate.
Waterlogged soil causes oxygen deprivation around the roots, reducing the rose plant’s ability to perform root respiration. Left in this state for prolonged periods causes a build up of other gasses, essentially suffocating the roots from below. Sitting in water also increases the plant’s susceptibility to soil-born pathogens.
Symptoms Of Flooding Stress
Leaves may turn yellow or brown, curl or wilt. Prolonged exposure to standing water can result in branch dieback and, in severe cases, the eventual loss of the plant.
How To Help
Once flood waters recede, take a walk through your garden and observe your plants. Look for soil erosion that may have left roots exposed and top up soil levels if need be. Make note of low wet spots that are not drying out. These areas will benefit from soil amendments to aid in drainage by breaking up heavy soil and compacted clay. In some cases, you may realize that re-planting your rose in a more suitable area of your garden would benefit the rose long term.
Drought Stress
My Plants Are Not Looking Good In This Drought
Prolonged periods of heat and lack of access to water are the most common causes of drought conditions. Sandy soil that drains too quickly can also play a factor. Potted roses should not be overlooked. Their position above the ground with more exposure to sun and wind causes them to dry out much more quickly than roses planted in the garden. Read more on potted and container roses in our resource.
Roots are the first part of the rose to detect drought. As water becomes scarce, the root-to-soil interface that enables water and nutrient uptake is compromised, preventing the plant from taking up essential minerals and nutrients. Dry conditions also change the soil texture, reducing its capacity to hold water while also restricting root development over time. As soil dries, salt concentration increases as well, creating further nutrient imbalance for the rose plant.
Symptoms Of Drought Stress
Plants experiencing drought stress may exhibit leaves that curl or wilt and turn yellow or brown. Initially, the plant may push growth and bloom earlier than expected with bud development also often being affected resulting in smaller flowers and fewer stems. In prolonged drought conditions, any vigorous quick growth that was initially seen will pause and the plant may be smaller than expected. Lack of water may ultimately result in the plant’s collapse.
How To Help
Start by regularly taking time to check your soil. Dig down two to three inches to see if the soil feels dry at that depth. If so, it's time to water. A moisture meter can also be a helpful tool in this instance. Extremely dry soil can become repellant to water so adding water at a slow and steady rate is important to allow it to absorb gradually rather than running off the surface. Take note of areas that dry out in your garden more quickly than others. Adding amendments to those areas can help improve the soil’s ability to retain water during dry spells. A generous layer of mulch is another wonderful way to hold moisture in the soil for longer between waterings.
Care After Water Stress
Avoid adding fertilizers immediately after a flooding or drought event. Monitor your soil and resume your regular feeding process, more on this here, once conditions have improved and your rose shows signs of healthy new growth. A light dead-heading of any wilted or dead blooms is helpful at this time as well.
A summer of weather stressors may tempt you to fertilize, especially after missing a routine feeding or two. Keep in mind seasonal recommendations for fertilizing roses according to your garden zone. Slow routine feedings or stop altogether. Allow the cooler fall nights and days to prepare the rose for dormancy naturally. Working within these seasonal rhythms will go a long way in helping the rose plant recover.
Building Resiliency
A preventative approach is best when it comes to supporting your roses through extreme weather. Focus on building health steadily through the regular addition of nutrients throughout the season.
Mycorrhizal fungi has been shown to improve soil structure and enhance a plant’s ability to be drought tolerant as does calcium. Seaweed or kelp, containing over 60 minerals and micronutrients, supports the plant's essential chemical reactions and helps it cope with environmental stress. Adding amendments to your soil to break up heavy clay or build organic matter in sandy soils will pay dividends through even the most challenging seasons.
Ultimately, one of the most powerful tools available to any gardener is simply the time taken to observe. Regular walks through your gardens, checking the soil and watching for early signs of stress, will always be one of the best ways to stay ahead of whatever water stress the unpredictable weather brings.
For more information on supporting your roses through the season, read our guides on fertilizers and soil enhancers and caring for roses during a heatwave by following each of the links.
Varieties Worth Considering
Some rose varieties are naturally more drought tolerant than others and worth considering if dry conditions are a recurring challenge in your garden. We've created a collection of drought tolerant roses for you.
