Skip to main content Tom's Guide Tom's Guide Search Tom's Guide View Profile Newsletters Best Picks Entertainment OpenAI announcement Switch 2 Restock Galaxy Z Fold 7 iPhone 17 Air Best laptops Wordle Today Best Mattress Recommended reading 5 plants that love the sun and will survive a heatwave 7 easy ways to keep birds cool this summer — your backyard visitors will thank you Gardeners urged to use this one kitchen ingredient to save dying plants in a heatwave — and you’ll be surprised Gardeners urged to use a sponge in the yard this summer — and it makes more sense than you think Stop mosquitoes in their tracks this summer with this one fragrant herb 3 lawn care mistakes silently killing your grass this summer — and how to avoid them Gardener reveals ‘centuries-old’ hack for keeping plants hydrated in the summer Don't let summer heat kill your roses — here's how to save them Kaycee Hill 22 July 2025 Keep your roses blooming all summer with these 7 tips When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Summer heat puts serious stress on your roses, and many gardeners make the mistake of thinking these hardy plants can handle neglect during the hottest months. While roses are relatively tough, summer is actually when they need the most attention to stay healthy and continue blooming. The combination of high temperatures, intense sun, and irregular watering creates perfect conditions for pest infestations and diseases that can damage your plants for months to come. Fortunately, roses are remarkably resilient and respond fast to proper care, meaning the attention you give them during summer's challenging conditions will reward you with better blooms. Here's what your roses need right now. You may like 5 plants that love the sun and will survive a heatwave 7 easy ways to keep birds cool this summer — your backyard visitors will thank you Gardeners urged to use this one kitchen ingredient to save dying plants in a heatwave — and you’ll be surprised 1. Deadhead spent flowers (Image: © Shutterstock) Cut off dead flowers just above the first set of leaves that has five parts (instead of three), using clean, sharp garden scissors or pruners. This stops the plant from making seeds and makes it focus on growing new flowers instead. Removing dead flowers regularly can make your roses bloom for several extra weeks and keeps them looking neat all summer. If you have roses that bloom more than once per season, you need to keep removing dead flowers to get those extra rounds of blooms. Felco Pruning Shears (F 6): was $65 now $59 at Amazon This Felco bypass pruner is perfect for medium-sized hands and comes with a comfortable ergonomic handle. It has a sturdy design, yet is lightweight and gives a consistent performance. What's more, this pruner is given a 5-star rating in our round up of the best pruning shears. 2. Feed roses after each flush of blooms (Image: © Tom's Guide) Apply a balanced rose fertilizer or high-potassium feed after the first major bloom period to fuel the next round of flowers. Summer feeding is crucial because roses are actively growing and blooming, depleting soil nutrients faster than during other seasons. Choose fertilizers specifically formulated for roses, or use a general-purpose fertilizer with equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Apply fertilizer to moist soil and water thoroughly afterward to help nutrients reach the root zone. 3. Water deeply and consistently (Image: © Shutterstock) Provide your roses with deep, thorough watering once or twice per week rather than frequent shallow watering. Deep watering encourages roots to grow down into cooler soil layers, making plants more drought-resistant and stable. Apply water directly to the soil around the base of the plant using a soaker hose or watering can, avoiding wetting the foliage, which can promote fungal diseases. Roses typically need about 1-2 inches of water per week during their growing season. 4. Monitor for pests and diseases (Image: © Shutterstock) Check your roses weekly for common summer problems including aphids, spider mites and black spot. Look for early warning signs such as distorted new growth, yellowing leaves with black spots, white powdery coating on leaves, or fine webbing on foliage. Early intervention is key to preventing minor issues from becoming major infestations. Remove affected leaves immediately and dispose of them in the trash rather than compost. 5. Prune lightly for shape and health (Image: © Shutterstock) Use clean, sharp pruning shears to remove crossing, damaged, or weak stems that crowd the center of the plant. Light summer pruning improves air circulation, which helps prevent fungal diseases and allows better penetration of treatments when needed. Remove any growth that's obviously dead, diseased, or damaged, cutting back to healthy tissue. You can also trim back long, straggly canes to encourage bushier growth and more flowers. 6. Apply or refresh mulch around plants (Image: © Shutterstock) Maintain a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around your roses, extending from the base of the plant to the drip line. Good mulch options include shredded bark, compost, well-rotted manure, or grass clippings that haven't been treated with herbicides. Mulch conserves soil moisture, moderates soil temperature, suppresses weeds, and gradually improves soil structure as it decomposes. Keep mulch a few inches away from the base of the plant to prevent pest harboring and allow air circulation. 7. Provide extra care during a heatwave (Image: © Shutterstock) During extreme heat, roses may need additional protection and care beyond normal summer routines. Consider providing temporary shade during the hottest part of the day using shade cloth or strategic placement of potted plants. Increase watering frequency but maintain deep application methods, and avoid fertilizing during heat stress periods. And watch for signs of heat stress, such as wilting despite adequate moisture, leaf scorch, or bud drop. Now you've learned how to keep your roses healthy during extreme heat, why not take a look at our other useful guides? Don't miss how to protect your plants during a watering ban and you can save heat-damaged plants with coconut sugar — here's how. And check out 7 simple tips to mosquito-proof yourself while you're tending to your plants this summer. More from Tom's Guide 7 essential home checks to do before every vacation Why you should sprinkle coffee grounds outside your front door If your gas stove won't light it's probably one of these 5 issues Today's best Gardening Gloves deals 56 Amazon customer reviews $7View Deal $8.99View Deal $9.79View Deal We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. See more Home How-Tos Kaycee Hill Social Links Navigation How-to Editor Kaycee is Tom's Guide's How-To Editor, known for tutorials that skip the fluff and get straight to what works. She writes across AI, homes, phones, and everything in between — because life doesn't stick to categories and neither should good advice. With years of experience in tech and content creation, she's built her reputation on turning complicated subjects into straightforward solutions. Kaycee is also an award-winning poet and co-editor at Fox and Star Books. Her debut collection is published by Bloodaxe, with a second book in the works. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. 5 plants that love the sun and will survive a heatwave 7 easy ways to keep birds cool this summer — your backyard visitors will thank you Gardeners urged to use this one kitchen ingredient to save dying plants in a heatwave — and you’ll be surprised Gardeners urged to use a sponge in the yard this summer — and it makes more sense than you think Stop mosquitoes in their tracks this summer with this one fragrant herb 3 lawn care mistakes silently killing your grass this summer — and how to avoid them Latest in Gardening Gardeners urged to put a bar of soap in the yard this summer — and it’s not as strange as it sounds How to protect your plants during a watering ban People are spreading yogurt on their windows to beat the heat this summer — and there's a scientific reason Banish mosquitoes from your home with one natural ingredient — and it also smells great You can save heat-damaged plants with coconut sugar — here's how Lowe’s summer sale is live from $5 — shop up to 40% off patio furniture, grills, appliances and more Latest in How To How to watch World Pool Championship 2025: live stream online from anywhere Your iPhone Notes app has a secret messaging feature — here's how to use it iOS 26 Safari lets you pick your own tab design — here's how to do it I'm a mattress tester — here's how to break in your new bed quickly How to watch The 153rd Open Championship: live stream major golf online, TV schedule, leaderboard, Round 4 tee times This hidden iPad feature alerts you to Apple books deals — here's how to enable it LATEST ARTICLES This hidden iPad feature alerts you to Apple books deals — here's how to enable it More than 20,000 budget e-bikes sold on Amazon and Walmart urgently recalled due to battery fires — these are the models effected YouTube is streaming this overlooked ’90s Brendan Fraser romantic comedy for free — and I urge you to watch These podiatrist-approved Skechers sandals are perfect for your summer travels — and they’re currently on sale for $31 I took a ginger shot every day for a week to see if it actually does anything — here’s my verdict Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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