WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Rosa 'Cecile Brunner', WUCOLS IV

How often to water Cecile Brunner rose in California

In July in the Central Valley, established Cecile Brunner rose in loam needs a deep watering about every 20 days: about 2.2 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 0.8 gallons a week. Cecile Brunner is a polyantha rose known as the sweetheart rose, with perfect little pink buds that open into small, fragrant, light pink double flowers. It comes as a shrub 3 to 6 feet tall or as a vigorous climber that clambers far higher on a strong support. Its stems are nearly thornless, and it is long-lived and disease resistant.

VineRated for 6 of 6 zones

How often to water Cecile Brunner rose, month by month

Your city
Plant width
2 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for Cecile Brunner rose and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure plant width

A shrub with its width marked from one side to the other and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the plant, from the tips of the leaves on one side to the tips on the other.

Water the whole area the plant covers, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that area.

A wider plant means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While it is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Soil dry 4 inches down under the canes in summer means Cecile Brunner rose can take a deep soak
  • Leaves drooping in afternoon heat during bloom can indicate thirst
  • Fewer repeat flowers through summer can follow a dry stretch
  • Black spots or mildew on leaves in still, damp air point to poor circulation, not thirst

How to water it

  • Water deeply at the base, keeping leaves dry
  • Let the upper few inches of soil dry between waterings
  • Plant in sun to part shade in well-drained soil with good air flow
  • Give the climbing form a strong arbor, fence or tree
  • Tie climbing canes to their support as they grow

Through the seasons

Water a new rose regularly through its first summer. Established plants are tough and take occasional deep watering, more in hot inland areas. The big flush comes in late spring to early summer, with more flowers on and off until fall, though the climbing form repeats less. WUCOLS rates Cecile Brunner rose low water on the north-central coast and in the Central Valley. On the south coast, in South Inland and in both deserts it carries a moderate water rating.

In pots

The shrubby Cecile Brunner rose suits a large pot on a sunny patio, where its little buds can be seen up close. Use a well-drained mix with some compost. Water when the top couple of inches are dry, until water drains from the base. In summer, check every couple of days. Keep the saucer empty. Water the soil, not the leaves. In winter, water when the mix dries and rain falls short.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
1.07gal per sq ft in JulyLow water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
6.84 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
0.761.52.33.00.16JAN0.26FEB0.43MAR0.61APR0.83MAY0.99JUN1.07JUL0.95AUG0.72SEP0.47OCT0.22NOV0.14DEC0.761.52.33.00.16JFM0.61AMJ1.07JAS0.47OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 1.07 in Jul, 6.84 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Cecile Brunner Rose: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.150.160.780.780.740.78
Feb0.210.260.810.870.930.93
Mar0.350.431.151.31.461.52
Apr0.470.611.41.611.891.95
May0.580.831.611.952.392.45
Jun0.640.991.742.292.852.79
Jul0.641.071.982.513.042.85
Aug0.60.951.862.332.792.6
Sep0.50.721.491.862.142.08
Oct0.350.471.151.331.461.49
Nov0.190.220.840.90.930.96
Dec0.120.140.650.680.650.68
Year4.86.8415.518.4121.2721.08

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 8

Rated low water in the Central Valley, like Cecile Brunner rose. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

BougainvilleaBougainvillea & spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyWisteriaWisteria spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFlowering WoodbineLonicera periclymenumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFleeceflowerFallopia baldschuanica (Polygonum aubertii)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCarolina JessamineGelsemium sempervirenslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyLady Banks RoseRosa banksiaelow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyRoger's Red GrapeVitis 'Roger's Red'low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyBlue Dawn Morning GloryIpomoea acuminatalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes Cecile Brunner rose, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water Cecile Brunner rose in summer?

In July, established Cecile Brunner rose in loam needs a deep watering about every 20 days in the Central Valley, about every 11 days on the south coast and about every 9 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does Cecile Brunner rose need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established Cecile Brunner rose needs about 0.1 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 0.4 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for Cecile Brunner rose change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates Cecile Brunner rose separately for each of the six California climate zones: low water in the North-Central Coastal zone, low water in the Central Valley zone, moderate water in the South Coastal zone, moderate water in the South Inland zone, moderate water in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, moderate water in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Why is it called the sweetheart rose?

Its perfect little pink buds earned that nickname. The flowers look like tiny hybrid tea roses. They are lightly fragrant.

Does Cecile Brunner rose climb?

There is a shrubby form and a climbing form. The climber can reach 20 to 25 feet with support. The shrub stays 3 to 6 feet.

Is Cecile Brunner rose disease resistant?

Yes, it is long-lived and disease resistant. Good air circulation still helps. Water at the base.

Can Cecile Brunner rose grow in shade?

It tolerates partial shade and even poor soil. Flowering is best in sun. Water a shaded plant less often.

Does Cecile Brunner rose rebloom?

Yes, after a big late spring flush it blooms on and off until fall. The climbing form reblooms less than the shrub. Steady water helps.

More plant watering guides

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Sources