Rose Care
Roses love sunshine
and will grow well if planted in an open position with at least 5 – 6 hours of direct sunlight every day and in well drained soil.Soil Preparation
This should carried out several weeks before planting. Dig the soil over a few times to a depth of 40cm and blend in some compost or old, well-rotted animal manure. Bags of Mixed Animal Manure can be purchased at your local nursery.Planting Winter is the best time for planting bare root roses
Unwrap each rose from its packaging, shake it free of sawdust and stand in a bucket of water overnight. Do not let roots dry out. Plant your bare root roses within 2-3 days of receiving them. Dig a hole about 30cm wide and 25cm deep, large enough to hold the roots when spread out. Make a small mound in the bottom of the hole and spread the roots over, cover with soil and firm down. The bud graft should remain 5cm above the ground level. In heavy clay soils build up the soil rather than digging down into the clay line.Water in well
Do not use fertiliser at planting time as it may burn the roots.Standard roses can be planted using the same method as for bush but first drive a strong stake into the hole prior to planting the rose and then securely tie the rose standard to the stake using a soft material. To keep roses longer than 3 days, dig a large hole in the garden and plant all your bare root roses in it and water well. They will keep for several weeks this way if kept moist.
When planting potted roses
Be sure to water the plant thoroughly before removing it from the pot. Prepare the soil as described above and then dig a hole wide enough to accommodate the roots of the rose and plant at the same depth as the soil ball from the pot. Fill the hole with soil and gently firm down, keeping the bud graft 5cm above the soil line. Water in well with a seaweed solution.Watering
Recently planted roses need good, regular, deep watering once or twice a week for the first few months and during summer, preferably in the morning to reduce risk of fungal disease and flower damage.Mulch in spring or early summer
Use with pea straw, lucerne hay etc. to help retain moisture, protect the roots from extreme temperatures and retard weed growth.Feed with a good rose food
Using good rose food (such as Osmocote Rose Food or Sudden Impact) is very beneficial in early spring to encourage new growth, then again after the first flush of flowers following a light summer pruning, and again in early autumn when the summer flowers have been pruned off.Pests
Through mulching, correct pruning, watering and feeding, your roses will thrive and be able to resist attacks from pests however it may be necessary to make occasional applications of pesticides to control such problems as black spot, aphids and mildew. Consult your local nursery for the correct solution before spraying.Winter Pruning
Very easy and should be done in late June/early July when the roses are have lost their leaves.1. Remove any dead wood and any thin shoots that are crossing over the centre of the plant, causing congestion.
2. Leave the strongest main stems as the framework for the plant and any soft, sappy water shoots, as these become the future main branches. Prune off any growth from below the main graft, as these are suckers from the wild briar understock.
3. Shorten all good main stems left by cutting at an angle about 5mm above an outward facing bud. This will encourage new growth and flowers.
