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I’ve not encountered that recommendation before. Roses are heavy users of potassium, but all the texts I’ve read on rose culture suggest applying it in spring as new growth begins. The exceptions are roses grown in warm climates – those that never really go dormant – in which case, the last fertilizing is recommended for mid-September for late fall flowers. What reason was given for a fall application? And that’s just the fertilizer schedule–there’s also disease and insect management, and pruning. Yet another example of why I’m glad I don’t grow roses.
My roses do get pruned in early spring, get fertilized with an organic fert twice a season and get no spraying whatsoever and they do just fine. I think that type of stringent care program is more designed towards growing plants and blooms for competition. The only winter care they get is the same as all my plants – I mulch in October. Would probably do a bit more in the way of winter protection if I were in a harsher climate, but it’s not necessary here. I am a fairly experienced gardener, and can grow some challenging plants, but I’ve given up on roses.
Even the types that are supposed to be less susceptible to blackspot got blackspot, but worst of all were the beetles. I have them in small numbers on other plants, and handpick them or ignore the damage, but the roses were like beetle candy. The plants are not too attractive with half their leaves gone and the other half *covered* with beetles. I notice that other rose bushes in the neighborhood look as bad or worse then mine, except for the few that are subjected to constant chemical applications. Japanese beetles are not a problem in my area, but enough other things plague roses here to make life difficult, fungal problems being the worst. I compromise by growing only a couple of HT’s and the rest of my roses are older shrubs and ramblers which seem to be much more resistant to problems. All get fungal problems from time to time – blackspot mainly – but never severe enough to defoliate or harm the plant. I prune ‘em back when necessary and keep the area clean and call it a day.
