What Your Rambling Rose Needs in June for Bigger Clusters of Beautifully Scented Blooms Until Fall
Early summer calls for some light rose maintenance
I added a 'Ghislaine de Féligonde' rambling rose to my garden last year and it has come back double the height and with even more blooms this spring. I've managed to achieve such a full and prolific display by keeping on top of seasonal tasks – and June comes with its own set to tick off.
If you also grow a rambling rose, you likely have a gorgeous, fragrant display right now (though, exact blooming time depends on the variety). This means some light pruning, tying in new growth, and deep watering is essential to do now for early summer care that extends your display until fall.
Here, I talk through exactly what to do with a rambling rose in June, so you can get the most out of this cottage garden staple.
1. Tie In Stems
While the main time to train a rambling rose (and indeed train a climbing rose) is when it isn't flowering (in spring and fall), you can do some light tying in June to protect any wayward stems that could snap in a sudden gust of wind.
One of the best pieces of advice I was given about my rambling rose was to train it into a fan shape on my trellis. The near-horizontal stems slow down the flow of sap and trick the plant into distributing energy all over, rather than rushing to the tips. This results in more bloom coverage and reduces bare, leafy patches.
It's best to use soft ties (like these from Amazon) or garden twine (like this from Lowe's) when attaching new growth to your plant support, leaving a finger's width between the stem and the support to ensure the ties don't cut into the plant.
2. Keep Deadheading
Although one of the biggest differences between climbing roses and rambling roses is that the former is much more likely to rebloom, there are some ramblers that have repeat displays.
This includes this 'Super Dorothy' rose from Amazon and 'Darwin's Enigma' rose from Amazon.
If your rambling rose is a repeat-flowering variety, then keep garden snips close to hand. These Fiskars gardening snips from Amazon are a good choice for the delicate rose stems.
You should deadhead your roses at the base of the flower stems, cutting at a node where new growth will emerge. This helps redirect the plant's energy into new growth and will extend your display.
If your rambling rose is a once-flowering variety, then there's no need to deadhead or tidy up the plant quickly. Leaving the spent blooms will often lead to the development of rosehips, which look particularly beautiful in fall.
You can find the best roses for rosehips in our expert guide.
3. Don't Fertilize Yet
There are a few rules to follow when it comes to fertilizing your rose (of any kind) to optimize its display.
If you provided your rose with a slow-release rose feed earlier in spring (March-April is the ideal window), then you don't need to top up with fertilizer in June – even if you are fertilizing the rest of your garden with an all-purpose feed (like this Miracle Gro one from Lowe's).
This is especially true for once-flowering varieties. In fact, fertilizing now could overload the plant, resulting in root burn, wilting, and a general decline in health.
However, for repeat-bloomers there is another opportunity to feed your rose. Once the first flush fades, you can use a liquid fertilizer (like this rose liquid feed from Amazon) to boost nutrients and support a second flush. You can also use a potash feed, like this tomato feed from Amazon.
This will happen later in the season, so for now just sit back and enjoy the early summer display.
4. Keep It Hydrated
With temperatures warming this month, it's important to keep on top of rose watering. Though, the age of your rose will determine just how much extra water it needs.
Newly planted roses will need some consistent watering as summer heat arrives to prevent heat stress and help them establish. Mature roses will be a lot more drought-tolerant, though weekly deep watering in warm spells will keep it hydrated and support its flowering.
Signs your rambling rose is underwatered include flowers fading quickly, wilting, and dropping leaves. Our guide to watering plants during a heatwave has more advice for keeping your rose happy through summer.
To ensure you also don't overwater your rose and cause root rot, use a soil moisture meter (I have this one from Amazon). I take regular readings to ensure my rose is sufficiently hydrated, as it helps me identify when to pick up my watering can without oversaturating the soil.
5. Check For Aphids
When I was watering my garden a couple of weeks ago I was horrified to see what's pictured in the image above: rose aphids all over new buds that are yet to open.
These spring and summer garden pests emerge around the same time as soft new growth on your rose, so now is the time to check for them (and other rose pests) and get rid of aphids as soon as you spot them.
You should inspect new shoot tips and the stems and buds just below them. These destructive pests cluster together and feed on soft growth, so also check on the underside of new foliage. They can be green, pink, or brown, depending on the species.
Some common signs of aphids on your rose include distorted and curling leaves, misshapen flower buds, sticky residue, and ant activity, as they 'farm' aphids for their honeydew. You may also spot the white cast shells of aphids as they shed their skin.
The good news is they rarely pose long-term damage to established roses, though blooms may be distorted in the short-term. They are also relatively easy to get rid of, especially if caught early.
I used my garden hose to blast them off my rose, which was effective and they didn't return. You can also pick them off and squish them or use a DIY aphid spray with dish soap and water to dry them out. You can also opt for insecticidal soap spray (available at Amazon).
I also relied on the natural pest control of beneficial insects to get rid of the aphids. I noticed quite a few ladybugs around my rose, which are aphid predators and help control their populations.
Keep inspecting your rose weekly throughout the summer months to catch aphid problems as early as possible.
What to Shop
This rose pruning gardening gloves have long sleeves and leather palms to protect your skin when tending to thorny shrubs.
These Fiskars gardening snips have micro snips, perfect for pruning and deadheading the delicate stems of smaller rambling roses.
This liquid rose fertilizer can be used to give your rambling rose a boost after its first flush of flowers. Dilute with water to apply.
The main thing to do with your rambling rose over the next couple of months is just enjoy. Light maintenance can help keep up aesthetics, but the summer isn't for major TLC. Once the end of summer rolls around, you'll want to prune your rambling rose and revive it after a tiring season of vigorous blooming.
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