Regional Growing Guide: So. California Coastal & Inland Valleys
From the sunny beaches of California to the blistering deserts of the Southwest, this region is marked by nearly year-round sunshine and little rain. Roses bloom from April through December in the more temperate parts, while they take a rest during August and September in the great deserts, where searing temperatures vary little between day and night. There, roses have two seasons: spring and fall, with peak blooming in April and October. Ample irrigation is key. Soils may be alkaline or sand: it's important to amend with plenty of organic matter. The best roses are heat tolerant, and tend to bear darker leaves and bloom in more intensely saturated colors.
Select a season: Spring Early Summer Late Summer Fall
Putting Roses to Rest
With the benign chill we call winter, gardeners could encourage roses to bloom right up until the end-of-the-year holidays. But for the overall health of the plant, it's better to encourage them to go dormant and really rest up. This reprieve ultimately strengthens the plants for many more years.
Steps to Fall Pruning
The first step is an easy one - wholeheartedly hacking off all growth taller than waist-height. No need to really pay attention here, just chop away all that excess foliage.
The next step is to start looking into the plant and removing all scrawny branchlets. Then remove stronger branches that cross or head into the center of the plant. Since my plants also send out vigorous branches into my walkway, I remove them as well.
The third step is to take a hard look at the overall plant to determine which are the strongest branches and where they go. This is your most discerning examination. Your main criteria is to create the bowl-shaped structure of five or more strong branches heading outward. The taller and broader the bush, the more main branches you can leave. This will enable the best air flow between branches to assure a healthy plant not prone to diseases.
The fourth step is to shorten remaining branches to the final height you desire. You want the branches to be approximately the same height, with no more than about 4 inches difference between tallest and shortest, so new growth will appear to be evenly balanced.
Tidy Up Around Plants
The last step is to remove all leaflets from the branches and fallen leaves under each plant. This gets rid of pathogens that can overwinter and bounce back up onto new foliage with rain and watering next spring.
Later in the winter, in January or February, lay down new compost, manure, and mulch to feed the plant through the next year.