It may seem tough to imagine that Fall is right around the corner. The heat of summer has tried our patience – extra watering, Japanese beetles, smaller blooms, blackspot. Hopefully you have been following the basics and things haven’t been that bad. Your blooms may not have been large and plentiful, but that’s just part of summer. If you tried some of the ideas in August’s column (if you don’t have a copy drop me a line or give a call), I’m willing to bet that your roses are healthy and ready to kick into high gear.

That’s what Fall is all about. The cooler weather will help the blooms develop and you will be able to enjoy their splendid color. The heat of the day won’t be as blistering and the roses can catch their breath in the cooler evenings.

There really isn’t anything special you need to do to help your roses move into Fall. The things we talked about in August – watering, spraying and cycle pruning still apply. KEEP WATERING! While the "not as hot days" may seem like a relief, your roses still love their water.

One important point – after September 1^st you should no longer feed with a granular or solid fertilizer. Because these last longer, you really don’t want to have your roses sending out new and tender growth in mid to late October. They should be "slowing down" at that time and continued long lasting fertilizer will keep that from happening. Continue to use liquid fertilizer. It doesn’t last as long so you can get the growth in September and early October that you want from your plants.

Rotating fungicide sprays is still important. With cooler evenings, the chance for powdery mildew increases. I use Immunox in my spray rotation during the fall do help prevent this. If it creeps in, copper fungicide does a good job knocking it out. I have had the best luck with copper when I DO NOT mix it with other sprays.

Be sure to deadhead – cut off spent blooms. This will encourage new and strong growth that will produce beautiful blooms in the Fall.

Keep asking questions. The only stupid question is the one not asked. Talk to consulting rosarians.

Fall is also a great time to start planning for next year. Take a look at what plants are under achievers. If you have been pampering yet getting poor results, think seriously about replacing that plant. While it may have looked great in the catalog or on the tag, it may not be a rose for this area. How do you find out what does well in this area? There are several easy and fun ways.

Ask rose growers in the area what does well in their gardens. Roses that grow well in California or Texas may not do well here at all. Local knowledge is a great start.

Go to a rose show. Look at which roses are the winners. They all have tags on them, so don’t hesitate to jot down the names. Ask folks at the show where to get those roses. We all love to talk about our "babies".

Check the "Handbook for Growing Roses". It is available through the American Rose Society and is one of the perks of joining the ARS. This rates roses for overall performance. Combine this rating with advice and recommendation from the "locals" and you’re off to a great start in choosing what will do well in your garden.

Time for me to head back out to the garden. While I enjoy writing this column, I love to be out in the roses. Stop by and wander through our garden, anytime. As you get ready for Fall - keep watering, keep spraying and ask those questions.