Standard Rose in September: monthly care

Standard roses need consistent moisture during the growing season. Water deeply once or twice a week from April through September if rainfall is scarce, applying 10–15 litres per plant so water reaches the root zone. Clay and loam soils hold moisture well, but avoid waterlogging. Reduce watering in autumn and winter when the rose is dormant, watering only during prolonged dry spells. Feed in March with a handful of general-purpose granular fertiliser such as Growmore or blood, fish and bone, scattering it around the base and lightly forking it into the topsoil. Apply a specialist rose fertiliser in April, following packet instructions, then give a second dose in June to support the summer flush of flowers. Avoid feeding after mid-July, as soft late growth is vulnerable to frost damage. Refresh the mulch layer each spring, spreading well-rotted compost or bark around the root zone to suppress weeds, conserve moisture and improve soil structure. Keep mulch a few centimetres clear of the stem. Standard roses in zone 6a–9b are generally hardy, but the graft union at the top of the stem is exposed and can suffer in severe winters. In colder areas or during hard frosts, wrap the head loosely in horticultural fleece. Check stakes and ties each autumn and spring, adjusting as needed. Rosa 'Leonardo da Vinci' is relatively disease-resistant, but watch for blackspot (purple-black leaf spots), powdery mildew (white coating on leaves) and aphids on new growth in spring. Remove and bin affected leaves promptly, and spray with a fungicide approved for roses if infection is severe. Encourage natural predators such as ladybirds to control aphids, or wash them off with a strong jet of water.