50 is sufficient.

I have another idea. I don't know how it compares exactly as far as money and time spent and efficacy. I've used one of those Wilt-Proof products that people use to protect from frost. It keeps plants from transpiring as much so they are prevented from drying out.

I've also heard of using Wilt Pruf for preventing sunburn on roses. But the shade cloth sounds like a good idea.

While I know of people who have had good experiences with Wilt Pruf type products, I've not experienced them here in SoCal with intense sun, heat and low humidity. I know the shade cloth is far more labor intensive, but it would be my first choice, if at all economically and physically possible. Kim

When I lived in Houston, Teas Nursery and other nurseries had shade cloth protecting their stock through the five or six months of summer temperatures. It impressed me because it felt cooler there than in the sun. They used at least a 60%. I use 70% on my huge south facing kitchen windows and it makes a difference.
If it were only a question of light, 50% would suffice, but the O.P. is having a major regional problem with drought and inavailability of water. Just using an antitranspirant isn't going to cool the plant down, nor will it cool the soil. It make even cook the rose leaves (as the canes of waxed roses get cooked every spring.)

Looking to the future and extending spring flush (by dropping temperatures)....go 60%. You may find that the roses are still getting a lot of direct sunlight in the spring that they won't get later on in the season as the sun rises higher in the sky towards noon.

I ordered the shade cloth today, went with the 50%. I will be constructing a makeshift shade over the two 30'x30' beds where I grow Old Europeans and species hybrids. When it cools down this winter, I can build a susbstantial form to support the cloth.

I grow the teas, bourbons, noisettes in the backyard. I can protect the ones I want to save with sheets, t-shirts and paper grocery sacks. It looks quite a sight.

I will have to research Wilt Pruf for future reference. My roses are so cooked at this point, I would be afraid to put any chemicals on them.

Well, if anyone asks about the tenting in your backyard, remember Halloween IS on the way! LOL! You're "practicing". Kim

Greybird.......

My girlfriend built a shadecloth structure using pvc piping and a gromet kit for the shadecloth for her vegetable garden this year. She needed something she could take down for winter because of the snow load.

I am sorry you've lost some roses, but I think you are doing the best you can do right now.

btw ... don't assume you've lost those roses completely. You don't know what's going on underground. Roses continue to surprise me by how they are programmed for survival.

Smiles,
Lyn

Greybird, keep us posted on your shade cloth covers. Pics would be great, too. I think this will help your roses.

Sherry

Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...

After I ordered, I got to thinking that the 50% might not be enough with all we have going on. I use a 64-70% shade cloth on my pot ghetto and many are band size. No sunburn or dehydration whatsoever, even with the minimal water applied.
So I called the company and they were able to change it to 60%.
I began digging holes for the poles this am. The first few inches were blow sand, wouldn't even stay in the digger for removal. Down about 5 inches, it turned to concrete consistency. I'm having to put some water in the hole, let it soak a while, then I can go a few inches further.
I getting pretty hopeful that this shade thing will make it a better summer envionment for the roses, even in normal years.
Sherry, can you suggest a better photo site than photobucket? It takes me forever to get them loaded and then the link does not always work. A tutorial please!!

I use Photobucket, too, and they've been loading fairly quick. Now if you're trying to load full-size pics to photobucket, it takes a long time. I resize mine first. Also, a while back I downloaded some kind of add-on for Firefox that was supposed to be quicker.

Do you use Firefox?
Have you upgraded free to Firefox 4 or 5? (I upgraded to 4, the 5 was automatic.)

Beyond that I have no suggestions. You tapped out all of my photo-loading knowledge. Pretty easy, wasn't it? I'm sure someone else knows another one.

Sherry

Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...