WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Rosa x 'Noare' PP11308, WUCOLS IV

How often to water Flower Carpet Red rose in California

In July in the Central Valley, established Flower Carpet Red rose in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days: about 8.8 gallons each time for a plant 4 feet across, about 7.6 gallons a week. Flower Carpet Red is a red-flowered member of a group of low, compact shrub roses bred for groundcover use. Plants stay 2 to 4 feet tall and spread 3 to 4 feet, forming a bushy mound of glossy leaves. Like its group mates, it repeats bloom from spring into fall with no deadheading, and it needs only light pruning.

ShrubRated for 5 of 6 zones

How often to water Flower Carpet Red rose, month by month

Your city
Plant width
4 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 Flower Carpet Red 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

  • Dry soil 3 inches under the canes during summer bloom says Flower Carpet Red rose is due a drink
  • Flower clusters thinning out in a hot spell can follow a dry root zone
  • Leaves hanging limp in late afternoon point to thirst
  • Spotted or rusty leaves on plants hit by sprinklers point to wet foliage, not dry soil

How to water it

  • Run drip under the mound so leaves stay dry
  • Water deeply, then wait for the upper soil to dry
  • Give it full sun and fertile, slightly acid soil that drains
  • Spread mulch between plants to slow drying
  • Shear in late winter only if you want it shorter and denser

Through the seasons

Water new plants regularly through their first summer. Established roses need different amounts by region, so follow the rating for your zone, and always water at the soil rather than on the leaves. Bloom runs from spring into fall. WUCOLS rates Flower Carpet Red rose very low water on the south coast. On the north-central coast, in the Central Valley, in South Inland and in the high desert it carries a moderate water rating. WUCOLS has not evaluated it for the low desert.

In pots

Flower Carpet Red rose makes a bold pot or window box plant with nonstop color. Fill the container with a fertile mix that drains well. Water when the upper inch or two is dry, pouring at the soil line until water escapes below. In hot weather, a small pot may need water daily. Tip out any water left in the saucer. In winter, water only after the mix dries.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
2.67gal per sq ft in JulyModerate water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
17.11 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
0.761.52.33.00.4JAN0.65FEB1.09MAR1.52APR2.08MAY2.48JUN2.67JUL2.39AUG1.8SEP1.18OCT0.56NOV0.34DEC0.761.52.33.00.4JFM1.52AMJ2.67JAS1.18OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 2.67 in Jul, 17.11 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Flower Carpet Red Rose: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.370.40.080.780.74–
Feb0.530.650.080.870.93–
Mar0.871.090.111.31.46–
Apr1.181.520.141.611.89–
May1.462.080.161.952.39–
Jun1.612.480.172.292.85–
Jul1.612.670.22.513.04–
Aug1.492.390.192.332.79–
Sep1.241.80.151.862.14–
Oct0.871.180.111.331.46–
Nov0.470.560.080.90.93–
Dec0.310.340.070.680.65–
Year1217.111.5518.4121.27–

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 16

Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like Flower Carpet Red rose. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

RosesRosa hybrids..bushmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyAzaleasRhododendron spp. (CA native and non-native spp.)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyCamelliasCamellia japonica (SHADE IN DESERT)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyGardeniasGardenia spp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBird of ParadiseStrelitzia reginae (shade in desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyHibiscusHibiscus rosa-sinensismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySago PalmCycas revolutamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyStar JasmineTrachelospermum jasminoides and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyArborvitaeThuja occidentalis ssp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBambooBambusa spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyLilacsSyringa hybrids (including Descanso hybrids)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySpireaSpiraea spp. (CA native and non native spp.)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyButterfly BushBuddleja davidii and hybridsmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySageSalvia officinalis and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed BuckeyeAesculus paviamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyWestern ServiceberryAmelanchier alnifoliamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July

Similar plants that need less water 16

Rated lower than Flower Carpet Red rose in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.

LavenderLavandula spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyRosemaryRosmarinus officinalislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyBougainvilleaBougainvillea & spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyOlive TreesOlea europaea ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCrape MyrtleLagerstroemia spp., hybrids & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyLantanaLantana camara ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySalviaSalvia greggii ssp., cvs. & hybridslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyAloeAloe spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySucculentsEcheveria spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyJunipersJuniperus spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyRussian SagePerovskia spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySagebrushArtemisia spp. (shrubby)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyWild PrivetLigustrum vulgarelow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCoralberrySymphoricarpos orbiculatus (SHADE)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySydney Golden WattleAcacia longifolialow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyBlue Leaf WattleAcacia salignalow 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 Flower Carpet Red 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 Flower Carpet Red rose in summer?

In July, established Flower Carpet Red rose in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days in the Central Valley, about once a month or less 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 Flower Carpet Red rose need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established Flower Carpet Red rose needs about 1.1 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across and about 4.3 gallons a day for a plant 8 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 Flower Carpet Red rose change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates Flower Carpet Red rose separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, very low water in the South Coastal zone, moderate water in the South Inland zone, moderate water in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Why does Flower Carpet Red have a very low rating on the south coast?

WUCOLS gives it a very low water rating there, lower than the related Flower Carpet roses. Its other rated zones carry a moderate rating. Follow the rating for your zone.

Does Flower Carpet Red rose need deadheading?

No, it keeps blooming from spring into fall without deadheading. Spent flowers drop on their own. Steady root-zone water keeps buds coming.

How do I prune Flower Carpet Red rose?

No pruning is needed beyond removing damaged or diseased canes. Cut it back in late winter if you want a shorter, bushier plant. Water after pruning.

Can Flower Carpet Red rose take shade?

It tolerates some shade but blooms less there. Full sun gives the best show. Shaded plants need less water.

What problems affect Flower Carpet Red rose?

Disease resistance is good, but rust, powdery mildew and black spot can appear. Avoid overhead watering. Deer and rabbits may browse it.

More plant watering guides

Hardy BegoniaWax BegoniaEnglish DaisyHyacinth OrchidJapanese BoxwoodEnglish BoxwoodBodinier BeautyberryScotch Heather

Sources