Most of the country is being gripped by a severe heat wave and we, in Connecticut, are no exception. This is also our second year of drought. I make sure all my roses get five gallons of water a week, but that leaves no water for the lawns. It’s really crispy out there where the grass has gone dormant, and instead of being soft and cool underfoot, it feels very prickly instead.

The weeds and wildflowers are beginning to burn out at the bottom of our big hill in the back, and all around the rose gardens are ‘monk’s fringes’ of green grass, supported by watering the roses. The sun is so hot that many of the blooms french-fry in one day, so there is plenty of dead-heading to do. Our plant food is still encouraging summer growth. We find ourselves praying that a big thunderstorm will come through and dump a couple of inches of rain.

At the end of last year, we were six or seven inches behind in rainfall. When this year arrived, we were given a dry winter and an overcast spring with a lot of severe temperature fluctuations but little rainfall. It’s been a long time since we had a good, soaking rain. When I checked the weather page in the newspaper this morning, I found that we are over eight inches behind in rainfall this year, and there are still five months left to go.

Self Care

I try my best to keep my roses happy, but I need to keep myself comfortable and hydrated, too.

The big hill side (back) of our house is on the east side and has most of the rose beds. The front faces west and is very hot in the afternoon. So, I try to water out back in the afternoon, following the shade progression as the sun moves westward. The front I try to water and dead-head in the morning, before the brutal heat arrives after mid-day.

It is a very good idea to wear sunscreen, although I think it makes me perspire much more by sealing up my pores. I try to remember to use some kind of ‘sport’ type of protection on my face because I have found that the regular stuff really burns my eyes when my sweat starts running. I wear a hat and keep a cold, wet washcloth on the back of my neck. When my body temperature warms it up, I swish the washcloth around in the air till it cools off and then I re-apply it. That seems to help a lot in keeping me cooler. I also keep spray sunscreen on the table by the back door. It takes two seconds to apply…no more excuses!

Hydrating

Hydration is sooooooo important when it is this hot and the heat continues into the night! I always have water with me and I drink a lot of it when I’m outside because I am perspiring so much. I keep it in a big, insulated covered cup and drink it through a straw very often while I am hydrating the roses. While I’m watering the roses this time of year, I also will also shower off the foliage. That does a lot to cool the rose bushes off for a few minutes, and I have noticed pollinators coming in for a drink on the leaves, as well. It is not unusual for me to turn the hose on myself, too, while the heat is on like this!

Summer Care

I am using Osmocote time-release fertilizer in my gardens. I started three years ago when I decided it was too much work to fertilize during brutal July. The NPK numbers are good and I like all the trace elements it provides to my roses. I apply the six month variety in May, and it feeds my roses all summer, each time I water. I think it’s a great addition to my garden and a product that is kinder to me in the heat of the summer.

Give good summer care to your roses, but don’t forget to take good care of yourself, as well! Be kind to your body and avoid heat stress by hydrating often. Take breaks when needed, and know that if you are unable to finish watering your roses and dead-heading them today, they will be waiting patiently for your return tomorrow. And, before you retreat to the house, please refresh the water in the birdbaths; I know they will really appreciate that and, in turn, will gobble up some more bugs in your gardens!