Common Mistakes To Avoid When Growing Spray Roses: A Complete Guide

Spray roses are a gardener’s dream, offering clusters of vibrant blooms that brighten up any garden.

However, growing these delicate beauties requires proper care and attention.

Many gardeners unknowingly make mistakes that hinder their growth, flowering, and overall health.

This guide outlines common mistakes when growing spray roses and provides actionable solutions to ensure your plants thrive and bloom abundantly throughout the season.

a . Overwatering: Drowning Your Roses

Mistake:

• Providing too much water, leading to soggy soil and root rot.

Consequences:

• Excess moisture suffocates roots, making it difficult for the plant to absorb nutrients.
• Promotes fungal diseases like black spot , powdery mildew, downy mildew and botrytis .

Solution:

• Water deeply and infrequently, ensuring the soil dries slightly between waterings.
• Use a moisture meter or insert a finger into the soil to check moisture levels before watering.
• Ensure proper drainage by planting in raised beds or amending the soil with compost and sand for better aeration.
• Make sure that the flower buds are not wet especially when harvesting the flowers. Wet buds encourages growth of botrytis which is a disease that affects the roses in storage or transportation.
• (See our posts on use of drip irrigation and use of tensiometers and suction tubes)

b . Inadequate Sunlight: Starving the Plant

Mistake:

• Planting spray roses in shaded areas with limited sunlight exposure.

Consequences:

• Weak, leggy growth with few or no blooms.
• Increased vulnerability to pests and fungal diseases due to damp, shaded conditions.

Solution:

• Select a location with 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
• Avoid planting near tall trees or walls that cast shade for extended periods.
• In warmer climates, provide afternoon shade to prevent scorching.

c . Poor Soil Drainage: Suffocating Roots

Mistake:

• Planting in heavy clay soil or low-lying areas prone to waterlogging.

Consequences:

• Waterlogged soil restricts root oxygen intake, causing root rot and stunted growth.

Solution:

• Prepare the soil with organic matter like compost, peat moss, or well-rotted manure to improve drainage.
• For heavy soils, plant in raised beds or add gravel at the bottom of planting holes to enhance drainage.
• Test soil pH and ensure it is between 6.0–7.0, ideal for rose growth.

d. Improper Pruning: Weakening the Plant

Mistake:

• Over-pruning or pruning at the wrong time of year.

Consequences:

• Removing too much growth weakens the plant and reduces flowering potential.
• Incorrect timing can lead to reduced blooms and vulnerability to disease.

Solution:

• Spring Pruning:
• • Prune before new growth starts to remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches.
• Mid-Season Pruning:
• • Lightly trim after the first flush of blooms to encourage repeat flowering.
• Deadheading:
• • Regularly remove spent blooms to redirect energy toward new flowers.
• Use sharp, sterilized pruning shears to prevent disease spread.

e . Neglecting Pest and Disease Control

Mistake:

• Ignoring early signs of pests or diseases, allowing infestations to spread.
• Not checking for nematodes in the soil, before and after planting.
• Not checking for host plant weeds that habour pests.

Consequences:

• Weak, stressed plants with damaged leaves, stems, and blooms.
• Spread of fungal diseases like rust, black spot, and powdery mildew.
• Damaged roots that will not be able to take up nutrients resulting in stunted growth.

Solution:

• Regular Monitoring: Inspect plants 3 times a week for signs of aphids, thrips, ball worms , spider mites, and fungal infections.
• Regular monitoring of weeds that can habour pests like Amaranthus can be a good breeding ground for ball or lace worms.
• Preventive Measures:
• • Choose disease-resistant varieties.
  • Ensure adequate spacing between plants for airflow.
  • Water at the base to keep foliage dry.
• Treatment Options:
• • Use organic solutions like neem oil, insecticidal soap, or compost tea sprays.
  • Introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs for natural pest control.
  • Apply fungicides early if needed, following label instructions.
• Periodically send soil and root samples to a nematologist and get a nematode count. If the count shows a high nematode activity use a nematicide.
• Remove all the weeds in and around rose production area. Make sure that the area of production is generally clean.

f . Inadequate Winter Protection: Frost Damage

Mistake:

• Leaving spray roses unprotected during harsh winter conditions.

Consequences:

• Frost damage to roots and stems, resulting in plant dieback or death.

Solution:

• Mulching: Apply a 4–6 inch layer of mulch (straw, plastic, bark, or compost) around the base to insulate roots.
• Covering Plants: In colder climates, wrap bushes in burlap or use frost blankets to shield plants from freezing temperatures.
• Reduce watering during dormancy but ensure soil doesn’t dry out completely.

g . Over-Fertilizing: Encouraging Foliage Over Flowers

Mistake:

• Applying too much fertilizer or using products high in nitrogen.
• Not knowing soil fertility before planting.

Consequences:

• Promotes lush foliage at the expense of blooms.
• Risk of salt buildup in the soil, burning roots and stunting growth.
• Application of too much or too little of fertilizer elements.

Solution:

• Use a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) or one formulated specifically for roses.
• Fertilize every 4–6 weeks during the growing season and stop feeding in late summer to allow plants to harden off for winter.
• Incorporate organic fertilizers like compost or fish emulsion for gradual nutrient release.
• It is imperative to take a soil sample for testing and get a soil analysis report. In most cases, the analysis comes back with a fertilizer recommendation for rose production.

h . Ignoring Proper Spacing and Air Circulation

Mistake:

• Planting roses too close together, reducing airflow.

Consequences:

• Creates a humid environment that encourages fungal diseases.

Solution:

• Space spray roses 18–24 inches apart to allow air to circulate freely.
• Regularly prune inner branches to keep the center of the plant open.

Final Thoughts

Growing spray roses successfully requires more than planting and watering.

By avoiding these common mistakes—from overwatering to poor pruning—you can ensure your roses remain healthy, vibrant, and full of blooms throughout the season.

With proper care and attention, spray roses can transform your garden into a floral paradise, providing beauty, fragrance, and elegance for years to come.

Lets keep the conversation going. Please leave your experiences , thoughts, and or questions in the comment box below and I promise to come back to you.

Happy gardening!!!!!!

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