Moved into a complex with an unchared for rose garden.

It is May 24. The rose garden has been uncared for, would like to prune and fertilize the bushes. I have some ideas but would like to hear from others

Hi Sparks....I see you've gone without a reply but since I'm no expert take what I say with a grain of salt....

a pic of what they currently look like would tell alot about what you mean by uncared for....

I have 10 rose bushes/climbers and although the south gets a jump on you I have pruned mine back hard due to this insufferable rain that spread black spot like the plague - I usually use Bayer Rose Treatment as it has the fert and fungicide rolled into one - but did not put on them this spring prior to leafing out...shame on me - so although many where already over 5' tall I pruned them back hard - I am sure some would say not the best method but it is one way to get rid of all the diseased leaves at once and get new growth started...6 weeks from now they'll be flushed out again....with all the other flowers blooming right now I can live with that!

I lived in IN for 18 yrs and usually pruned them back late spring for shaping purposes, but now living in SC I have learned to do that in late March.

Post a pic and I'll give you the rest of my two cents LOL

Thanks Red, I will try to get a pic for you.

Hi, I had computer and camera problems and finally just got what I wanted. Will show two pics, one of the area in general and one of close up of dead blossoms. Need to know where to trim the dead blossoms. Just the blossoms or just below on the limb.
Doggone it, I have the pics in a file and when I browse the files don't show. How in the heck do I get them.

when you click to browse click the up arrow at the top of the page where the file name is to bring you to the directory of where they are- if all else fails move copies to your desktop thats the easiest directory to get to LOL

Some people like me need to be led by the hand. I think I got it. Thanks red

One more picture.

I would def do some light shaping pruning to encourage new growth and dead head faded blooms - with all that pine straw ground can get acidic if that's all they have ever put down - def. do some fertilizing...

I really like how they have the roses down the walk way - I bet it's very pretty when they are all blooming!

If you have the time I really like the Bayer liquid you mix with a gal of water...I know you have alot of rose bushes there but the Bayer liquid is more than just fertilizer - it's a brown liquid and I mix a capful with each gallon and pour around the base of my roses, I do it once a month or two - except this year - I've really been lazy - LOL going back to work full time makes one want to sit and stare at what needs to be done instead of getting it done... :)

Hi Red,
I purchased some MiracleGro rose plant food. It is in granual form to be mixed with water. Have used it in the past and liked it. I have put it now on 4 plants and they all seem to be perking up.
I did do some reading on pruning that I found on Google and feel fairly confident about it now, sounds like it is hard to kill the bushes so I have relaxed.
Now ther is another problem, many of the leaves have small holes in them (not just the ones I am pruning). I am including a picture, it looks like white stuff on them only they are holes with white paper behind them.

Obviously something is eating the leaves but I'll let the rose experts respond since the black spot on mine is less attractive than the holes in your leaves.