Water is essential to rose care

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, people have the luxury of going indoors.

Meanwhile, their roses have to just stay put. Roses don't like intense heat any more than most people do. Their priority is to live. The plant will conserve its resources for roots, canes, leaves and bloom – 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...