Growing Roses in Western Australia
There are a lot of things to consider when you grow roses in Western Australia. At the moment I provide rose care for homes and businesses around the Perth area and I learnt over the years that there are many things we must take into consideration during the different seasons.
Winter (or the colder months) is definitely crucial for providing a heavy prune because it’s this time of the year that we can promote a healthy growth for the spring months before we head into the Summer warmer months.
Checking the roses for pests and infections is also part of the care during this time but moving into the warmer months I like to encourage my clients to be proactive when it comes to looking at their roses and checking if they see anything unusual or any significant changes happening to their roses. It’s essential that we stay on top of any issues that may be happening.
Some of the pests and disease control we want to keep on top of include pests such as aphids, chilli thrip (especially during the warmer months) and diseases like powdery mildew and black spot. I like to use natural products to treat these pests and diseases where I can. I am also aware of anything I use around pets and small children or if you have any allergies, I will change what I am using to accommodate any problems.
There are other things that we need to consider in Western Australia and that includes:
- Sunlight
- Soil
- Watering
- Mulching
- Fertilising
- Pruning – Winter and Summer pruning
- Deadheading your roses
Over the next few months we will look at these aspects of rose care through Perth and Western Australia.
John Kelly
