Associations with luxury and romance are behind the enduring enthusiasm of homeowners who add roses to their gardens. ‘The plants may seem expensive but they last many years,’ says Tanya Jacques, one of our gardening experts. ‘Growing your own provides a steady supply of beautiful, fragrant blooms throughout the summer months’.
There are three ways to buy roses. Bare-root varieties are usually the best quality and value, but need to be planted immediately to stop roots drying out. These are only available in winter.
Containerised roses are bare-root plants that are wrapped or potted in compost for selling. They are also at their best from November to March but will be sold into later months and should be planted as soon as possible.
Container-grown roses are raised and sold in the same pot. They tend to be more costly and less hardy than bare-root plants, but they can be planted at any time. If you’d like help finding the best source of roses in your local area, call to speak to one of our home experts who’ll refer you to the favourite suppliers of other members who live near you.
‘There are plenty of sizes and styles available,’ Tanya says. ‘Hybrid tea roses are tall and long-stemmed with large blooms, floribunda has slightly smaller flowers in clusters, and grandiflora is a cross between the two. Climbers can be trained around a trellis, while miniature versions are ideal for container gardening.’ Speak to us for advice on the best options for your purpose and the location.
Planting
Roses are best grown in areas that get at least six hours of sunlight a day without too much shade. ‘They like space, so position them away from fences and other plants,’ says Tanya. ‘Even climbing roses should be about 45cm from walls.’
Before planting, make sure roots are moist and treat the soil if necessary. Roses thrive in neutral to slightly acidic soil – our experts can talk you through the process of adjusting the conditions. Add well-rotted compost or manure to improve drainage and moisture retention.
For bare-root roses, dig a hole as deep as the roots and about twice their diameter. Place the rose in the hole, making sure the point from which the branches grow is about an inch below soil level, then refill carefully. For container roses, dig the hole a little bigger than the pot, tease out some roots then plant, replacing soil gently and watering well.
Try to avoid replacing one rose with another but, if you have no choice, dig a hole about 45cm wide and deep, and swap the soil for some from a different area of the garden.
Care
Most roses benefit from pruning to shape the plant and encourage new growth. Cut back in late winter to early spring – wear gloves to protect hands, and remove dead or damaged parts first. Prune hybrid tea roses and floribunda varieties down to 10-15cm; ramblers and climbers can be pruned to about 30-40cm.
Apply fertiliser each spring, then add a layer of mulch about 8-10cm deep, leaving a gap around stems. In following years, put fertiliser on top of remaining mulch – rain will wash it through to the soil – then restore mulch to its original level.
Deadheading, the removal of spent flowers throughout summer, will prolong blooming. Traditionally this is done by cutting the shoot about three to five leaves below the flower, although more recently it has become favourable to simply remove the flower heads.
Roses are susceptible to aphids, but let birds and ladybirds find them or rub them out with your fingers before resorting to insecticide. ‘Roses in mixed borders are less vulnerable to disease and some varieties are more naturally resistant,’ says Tanya. Contact us for more information and advice on these types, or for dealing with infestations – and don’t forget that if you need more help, we can arrange for a local gardener who specialises in roses to come round and talk you through it.
Connect with Ten Lifestyle