Frank Brines, Master Rosarian
Special to Valley News
When it feels as though Mother Nature is out to get gardeners living in the Temecula Valley and other regions that predictably experience hot summers, and the wind parches our skin, we have the luxury of going indoors. Meanwhile, our roses have to just stay put. Roses don't like intense heat any more than most of us do. Their priority is to live. The plant will conserve its resources for roots, canes, leaves and blooms—in that order. When it's hot, roses want lots of water and heat relief rather than food.
Blooms will be smaller with sunburned petals and lessened fragrance. Leaves will turn yellow as chlorophyll is degraded by heat, reducing photosynthesis, then turn brown just attempting to keep hydrated because their root system c
