My roses seem to like morning hand watering best. I water them all at the base first and go back a second time and do it again. If the sun is going to be drying them off in 1/2 hour's time, I wash down all the foliage to discourage pests and diseases. Sprinklers are easier, but I lose water to evaporation and soil splashes up and causes rust and blackspot. Soakers work great, but be sure to cover with mulch and check the performance. They wear out and don't water evenly anymore. Mine always watered more at the hose end and less at the closed end and so I would end up hand watering anyway. When they are new, they work great. I suppose the perfect situation would be drip irrigation on roses planted in a shallow depression like a basin. The little concrete or stone collars work great on a slope. Also, rings of river rock work fine. I like to move a slow running hose from plant to plant while I prune, weed and check for bugs. If I don't have time, I use the sprinkler but then I get more rust, etc.

On the advice of the people here, I bought the Rose kit from Dripworks. It worked so well that I decided to hook up my whole backyard instead of just the rose border. I've ordered more parts two more times and I need to order more again. I was lazy this summer because we had so much rain here, but I really regretted not getting what I needed for my new garden as it is such a pain now to hand water when I know I don't have to. There's nothing better than watering by turning a switch and then going and doing something else. I recommend starting with a kit and then expanding so you have the basics down before doing anything complicated. That really helped me to understand how it worked and what else I needed.

Here in Houston, we're having record heat (up to 105 a few days ago) AND we're in the middle of a -18" drought (worst since 1956). I'm watering at first light and right after sundown during the week. On weekends when I'm home I'll give a mid-day watering, as well. Leaves are STILL brown and crunch and hardly any blooms are intact on my Nikko, Mdm Emilloire, Masjas, T&S, ES and Nantucket blue, which get a lot of sun and the last 3 are in pots. The ASB, Trophee and Oregon Pride which are in the ground and get less sun are doing fine (though all their blooms are white or nearly white... not sure what's up with that). So, depends on the situation. It's not possible to overwater them right now where I am.

Hi Everyone, I also have had lots of rain here on the East Coast, but the temps can change in a blink of an eye!! I find all of the different varieties need water at diifferent times. I check them often and i will wait until they are dry and then water. We all have different climates and humidity can make a difference too! SO, i wouldnt worry about giving to much water if youu have a good draining mix, but it seems like they like to dry and then get watered. I checked all of my trees today, since we had two days of rain and some of them are dry.. I was shocked, but the leaves do protect the soil and sometimes the water can just run off and never reach inside the containers. As the temps start to change and get cooler during the fall, i will be more careful about watering.. especially if i ever mist my plants.. I dont want to encourgae orange rust.. Tomato.. You are doing fine with your watering.. As long as your plants are healthy looking and growing well,, i wouldnt worry. Take care everyone!!! Laura