WATERING -- If you live in an area where irrigation is necessary, here is the general information you need regarding watering. Keep the ground around your roses damp, but not soggy. That may require irrigating 2-4 times per week during hot or windy weather in some climates. Consider using a "weeping hose" on a time clock -- it's easy to install, promotes optimal watering levels, and often saves money on water bills. Remember to mulch your plants; this also conserves moisture and reduces both work and expense. Watering roses, especially the foliage, in early morning hours reduces diseases (with the major exception of black spot). But never sprinkle rose foliage in the afternoon or evening, since this promotes diseases and ruins your enjoyment of roses.

FEEDING -- Feed with a high-phosphorus balanced fertilizer at least twice a year (early Spring and mid-Summer). For super roses, feed after every flush of flowers (about every 6-8 weeks) from Spring until mid-Summer. To eliminate aphids without spraying, use a plant food containing a systemic insecticide, such as "Ortho Systemic Rose & Flower Care" or "Spectracide Rose & Flower Care," for the first and last feedings of the year. In cold winter areas feed in early Autumn with a high-potassium formula to help increase stamina during cold weather.

SPRAYS -- You can avoid spraying somewhat by (1) selecting varieties known to be resistant to the diseases in your locality, (2) planting them in a sunny location where there is ample air movement, (3) watering early in the morning but not in the afternoon or evening, and (4) by feeding in Spring and mid-summer with systemic plant foods. Otherwise, if necessary, use Sevin (carbaryl) for caterpillars and grasshoppers, Malathion for aphids, Benlate (benomyl) for mildew and triforine or chlorothalonil for blackspot. Fungicides must be applied weekly for 4-8 weeks in spring and fall to be effective. Mildew and blackspot usually disappear during hot, dry weather even without spraying. (I rarely spray my roses, and they still provide a beautiful garden!) Remove infected leaves from the garden to reduce the spread of diseases.

ANNUAL PRUNING GUIDELINES - GENERAL -- Remove dead and spindly branches. Leaving straight canes usually results in larger spring flowers, while pruning so canes are branched usually gives more, and smaller, spring blooms. You don't really need to worry about which direction the remaining top bud is facing while you prune: the plants will grow back anyway. After pruning, remove all foliage from the plant and from the ground; this helps to reduce disease problems in the springtime (and it tidies up your garden, too).