We constantly tell our members that roses require a lot of water– minimally, the equivalent of two inches per week. Other times we tell you "water, water, water." Seldom do you see an article on rose growing that doesn’t stress the importance of water. Yet, whenever we’re called out on a "rose consultation," invariably, the thing that sticks out like the proverbial sore thumb is the lack of moisture in the rose beds.

We think that this subject needs a little discussion because many of our members don’t have the foggiest idea of how much water to give their bushes.

Let’s see if we can clarify this situation. For the sake of simplicity, let us assume that the roots of a mature rose bush occupy an area of 36 square feet; that is, 6 feet by 6 feet. Now, 36 square feet is equal to 5,184 square inches and if you multiply that by 2, you have a volume of 10,368 cubic inches; this is the amount of water equivalent to two inches of rain localized in 36 square feet. A gallon contains 231 cubic inches. Consequently, it would require you to put 44.88 gallons of water in the 36 square feet that your rose bush is growing to equal two inches of rain. For the sake of simplicity, let’s round that off to 45 gallons.

If you fill a gallon jug with your garden hose and see how long it takes you to do it – and it will vary depending on water pressure and the size of the hose – then you’ll know how long it will take you to put out the 45 gallons of water for one rose bush. Bear in mind that this is the minimum amount you need; more is much better.

If you were to get a 2" downpour or if you were to deliver 45 gallons of water to your bush, you would think that’s it for the week. Wrong! When you put that much water on our very porous Florida soil, it goes right through it and 2 or 3 days later, your rose bush would be dry again. What you need to do is give your bush at least 15 gallons of water 3 times per week; then you’re doing the equivalent of 2 inches per week and you will see a dramatic improvement in your bushes and consequently, in the quality of your blooms. A good layer of mulch will help keep the moisture there.

The secret to growing good roses is in the amount of water that your bushes receive. If you’re skimpy with the water, all the fertilizer in the world won’t help, because water is what carries it into the bush. So resolve today to give your roses water at least in the amount recommended above — more will be better.

Can you give your roses too much water? Yes, you can, but this is not usually the case. If you have poorly draining soil or if you have prepared a planting hole that does not drain properly, the roots of your rose bush will be standing in water and it won’t be long before they begin to rot. At that point in time your rose bush will begin to go downhill fast.

In conclusion, in our fast draining soil here in the Tampa Bay area, if you want good roses, you must:

water, water, water.