When a summer heatwave sets in, roses lose moisture rapidly, and beautifully blooming plants suddenly take a turn for the worse with few flowers and damaged, wilting leaves.

If the forecast calls for a period of hot, dry weather, take the steps outlined here to prevent heat stress in your roses and restore them to their former glory.

Why Roses Wilt in Summer Heat

Heat stress is the primary cause of rose wilt in summer. Plants need six hours of sunlight daily but struggle when temperatures remain above 85°F.

Leaves lose moisture rapidly through transpiration and weaken the plant’s ability to photosynthesize and take up nutrients. Flowers droop, shrivel, and fade quickly, and foliage yellows, curls, and wilts.

Compensating by overwatering or watering at the wrong time can make the problem worse. Fertilizing further stresses plants and can cause root damage. This is the time to baby your roses and help them recover by giving them a little protection and rest.

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10 Ways to Prevent Rose Wilting in Summer

• Mulch: When you can get ahead of the heat wave, or if your roses are already sufferin,g put down a 2-to 3-inch layer of organic mulch. If wilting has occurred, check moisture levels in soil and water deeply when necessary before mulching.
• Provide Shade: Cover rose bushes during the hottest part of the day. Set up a patio umbrella or use shade cloth. Remove covers when evening temperatures drop. Move potted roses into a shady spot.
• Water Deeply: Check soil moisture daily or every couple of days and water deeply to saturate the root ball.
• Water at the Right Time: Water during cooler hours in the morning and evening to help slow water loss through transpiration.
• Spray Foliage with Water: Overhead watering is not usually recommended, but when temperatures remain high, rose leaves benefit from a light spray to cool them down.
• Loosen Soil: Use a spade or trowel to loosen soil around the root ball to help water penetrate deeply into the root zone.
• Avoid Planting Near Heat Sources: Plant rose bushes away from stone or brick buildings and other structures that retain and emit heat.
• Withhold fertilizer: Withhold fertilizer until temperatures cool.
• Avoid Heavy Pruning: Deadheading is okay, but avoid thinning and heavy pruning, which can cause sunscald on the canes and plant loss.
• Plant Heat Tolerant Varieties: If you live in a climate with consistently hot summer temperatures, look for and grow rose varieties bred for heat tolerance.

4 Signs Your Roses Are Suffering from Heat Stress

• Leaf Damage: Foliage yellows, curls, or wilts and drops prematurely.
• Small or Faded Blooms: Flowers are small, fade quickly, and drop. Plants generate few blooms or may stop blooming altogether.
• Brown Leaf Edges: Brown, crispy edges along leaf margins are a sign of sunscald and moisture loss.
• Insect Infestation: Insect pests prey on damaged and weakened plants.

How to Revive Heat-Stressed Roses

Check moisture levels frequently to make sure the rootball and zone stay hydrated. Watering deeply but less frequently supports efficient nutrient uptake. Water in the morning or evening to avoid rapid evaporation during the hottest parts of the day.

Add a layer of mulch to help retain moisture and cool the soil. Deadhead faded flowers, but avoid removing too much foliage. Instead, give plants some protection from afternoon sun and take a break from fertilizing and heavy pruning until they show signs of renewed vigor.

Avoid heavy applications of pesticides. Hand-pick or use a strong spray from your garden hose early in the day to knock down pests.