Hot Summer Rose Care: Tips to Help Your Roses Survive

By: Angela Judd | July 15, 2024

Your roses won’t look their best if you live in a hot summer climate during the hottest months (June, July, and August). That’s normal. Your role in caring for your roses during the extreme heat of summer is crucial. Use these hot summer rose care tips to help your roses survive. As temperatures cool in the fall, your diligent care will be rewarded with beautiful blooms.

Iceberg roses are heat tolerant roses with prolific blooms — Iceberg roses are heat-tolerant roses with prolific blooms

Article Outline:

Select Heat-Loving Rose Varieties
Planting at the Right Time for Heat Resilience
The Importance of Mulch for Roses in Extreme Heat
Providing Shade for Roses in Extreme Heat
Watering Roses in Extreme Summer Heat
Pests and Diseases to Watch Out for Over the Summer
What About Deadheading?
Should I Fertilize Roses During the Summer?

Hot Summer Rose Care: Select Heat-Loving Rose Varieties

When growing roses in hot climate areas, choosing the right varieties helps ensure your roses survive the summer heat. Roses such as Memorial Day, Iceberg, and Julia Child are excellent choices as they are known for their resilience and ability to withstand high temperatures. Memorial Day roses reward gardeners with their large, fragrant blooms, while Iceberg roses are renowned for their prolific flowering and disease resistance. Julia Child roses combine beauty with durability, producing stunning blooms.

Examples of heat-tolerant roses–Iceberg, Julia Child, and Memorial Day — Examples of heat-tolerant roses: Iceberg, Julia Child, and Memorial Day

Planting at the Right Time for Heat Resilience

Timing is key when planting roses in hot climates. To give your roses the best chance to establish strong roots before the extreme summer heat arrives, plant container-grown roses between November and March. If planting bare-root roses, the ideal time is December through January.

Why Fall through Early Spring Are the Best Times to Plant:

Cooler temperatures reduce transplant stress, allowing roots to grow without the added burden of intense heat.
Roses establish quickly in the mild winter months, giving them time to develop before spring growth begins.
Roses planted early have time to grow deep, strong roots, making them more drought-tolerant and resilient for summer.
Summer-planted roses struggle in the heat, often requiring extra water and care to survive their first summer.

By planting at the right time, your roses will have a strong foundation and be better prepared to handle the challenges of summer.

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The Importance of Mulch for Roses in Extreme Heat

Mulching is one of the best ways to protect your roses from summer heat while also improving soil health. A 2-3 inch layer of mulch helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds.

Best Mulch Options for Roses:

Compost – Acts as a mulch while also enriching the soil with nutrients as it breaks down. Apply before summer begins and refresh as needed.
Wood chips or bark mulch – Provides a long-lasting barrier against moisture loss and heat stress.
Shredded leaves or straw – A natural, lightweight option that insulates the soil.

A thick layer of mulch helps prevent the sun from drying out the soil too quickly, reducing the frequency of watering and keeping rose roots cool. For best results, keep mulch a few inches away from the base of the plant to prevent rot and pests.

Want to make your own compost for mulching? [Learn how to compost here.]

Mulch Roses — Protect your roses during the summer with mulch

Providing Shade for Roses in Extreme Heat

While roses thrive in full sun during milder seasons, intense summer heat can be stressful or even deadly. Prolonged exposure to scorching afternoon sun can cause leaf scorch, wilting, and overall plant decline.

Wondering if your garden really needs shade? In Why Add Shade to Your Garden in Summer, I share how shade protects plants, conserves water, and extends your growing season.

How to Protect Roses from Intense Sun:

Provide afternoon shade. If your roses receive direct afternoon sun, consider adding temporary shade cloth, garden umbrellas, or shade structures to block the harshest rays.
Use companion plants. Taller plants or vines can offer natural shade without completely blocking sunlight.
Plant strategically. If possible, situate roses where they receive morning sun and afternoon protection, especially in extremely hot climates.

Looking for creative shade solutions? [Read this blog post for ideas on how to add shade.]

For more strategies to help your garden survive extreme heat, check out this guide on heatwave survival tips.

Not sure how much sun your veggies need? Check out this guide on Which Vegetables Need Shade (and Which Thrive in Full Sun) to help your garden thrive.

Watering Roses in Extreme Summer Heat

Brown leaves or dying branches are indicators that your plant isn't getting enough water — Brown leaves or dying branches could be indicators that your plant isn’t getting enough water

Establishing correct watering habits from the beginning helps roses develop deep, strong roots that can better withstand the intense heat of summer. The key to success is deep, infrequent watering rather than frequent shallow watering.

How to Water Roses in Hot Climates:

Water deeply but less often. A thorough soak encourages deep root growth, making plants more resilient to heat and drought.
Let the soil dry slightly between waterings. Allowing the top few inches of soil to dry out before watering again helps prevent root rot and fungal issues.
Avoid soggy conditions. Overwatering can suffocate roots, leading to rot and disease. Ensure proper drainage to keep roots healthy.

Signs Your Roses Need More Water:

Even if leaves appear fine, brown leaves, dying branches, or a general decline in plant health can indicate water stress. High temperatures and dry conditions weaken roses, making them more susceptible to disease and sunburn.

Pests and Diseases to Watch Out for Over the Summer

One benefit of warmer temperatures is the reduction in rose pests like aphids. Powdery mildew is also less common in extreme heat. However, spider mites can become a problem in hot, dry conditions. To help prevent spider mites, spray your roses a couple of times a week with a strong blast of water on both sides of the leaves to remove dust and any mites present.

For more tips on controlling spider mites, read this blog post.

Spider mites and leaf-cutter bee damage are common during the summer

If you notice circles cut out from rose leaves, leaf-cutter bees are the likely culprits. These solitary bees use the leaves to build their nests. This type of damage is purely cosmetic and not a cause for concern. Leaf-cutter bees are excellent pollinators and beneficial to your garden.

Hot Summer Rose Care: What About Deadheading?

Spent blooms (left) and a rose hip forming (right)

Generally, pruning and deadheading (removing spent blooms) encourage new growth. However, in extreme heat, new growth can burn up and cause additional stress to the plant. Instead of heavy pruning or deadheading, remove spent blooms right under the flower. This will prevent rose hips from forming and will be less stressful for the plant. A light touch during the hot summer months is critical.

Should I Fertilize Roses During the Summer?

Opinions vary on fertilizing roses during the summer months. Experiment to see what works best for your plants. Rather than feeding your plants, keeping your soil microbially active is crucial. A thick layer of compost often provides enough nutrients as it breaks down. Adding worm castings with the compost can further ensure healthy soil over the summer.

Hot Summer Rose Care: Help Your Roses Survive Extreme Heat — Worm castings from my in-bed vermicomposting bins

If you feed your roses, water them beforehand to hydrate the soil and plants fully. Use ¼ to ½ doses of an organic fertilizer once a month. If roses are in their first year, use a liquid fertilizer like this one. More is not better, as over-fertilization can cause additional problems. Resume regular feeding in September.

Roses may struggle during extreme heat, but with proper care, they are resilient and should survive. Let the prospect of stunning blooms in fall fill you with optimism throughout the hot summer months.