Our Favourite Flower
The rose is the UK’s most popular flower, and it’s not hard to see why. With their spectacular blooms and captivating fragrance, roses make a sensational addition to any garden. From timeless crimson to gorgeous pastel peach, there’s a whole world of colour, texture and fragrance to discover. As it’s Rose Awareness Week, we’re taking a closer look at this most beautiful of flowers …
Which to choose?
Did you know there’s a mind-blowing 30,000 different cultivars of rose?
From vast rambling varieties to delightful potted miniatures, roses come in a huge array of shapes, sizes, colours and aromas.
Not sure which is best for you and your garden?
Here’s the main things to consider when picking the perfect rose…
Size and spread
Are you after a neat, compact display or something more wild and free-flowing? Many roses will grow quite happily in containers – ideal for bringing colour and fragrance to your decking or patio. Miniature, patio and floribunda all work well in pots. Looking to fill a border or cover a wall? Rambling, climbing or ground-cover varieties will all spread freely to fill the available space.
Location
Roses love the sun. For the best blooms, aim for a spot that gets at least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day. In terms of soil, roses prefer a free-draining soil. If your soil is particularly dense or clay-heavy, it can be helpful to mix in some compost or manure when planting your roses. It’s also important to avoid anywhere particularly exposed as high wind can loosen the root ball and damage the plant.
Pick of the bunch
You’ll find a sensational selection of roses at your local British Garden Centre.
From vibrant pinks and reds to gentle whites and pastels, there’s a huge range of colour to choose from.
But colour is just the tip of the iceberg!
Roses come in a range of different bloom types, from the classic ‘full’ to the elegant ‘single’. Here’s a little snapshot of some of our favourite cultivars, all photographed at British Garden Centres….
Summer rose care
Taking place in the middle of June, Rose Awareness Week is when many roses are at their very best.
While summer blesses us with boundless, beautiful blooms, it’s also when we need to be most attentive to our precious roses bushes.
Here’s our top tips for looking after your roses this summer:
Water
Newly planted roses should be watered every few days. Established roses require less frequent watering: around once a week unless the weather is particularly warm and sunny.
Feed
Feeding your rose is vital to encourage strong growth and abundant flowers. You can either sprinkle slow-release granules onto the soil or dilute some liquid rose feed in your watering can.
Mulch
As we move through summer, mulching is really important. Adding a layer of good-quality compost to the soil around your rose will help it retain moisture and regulate its temperature. Avoid keeping mulch away from the stem itself to avoid any chance of rot.
Deadhead
Regularly deadheading not only improves the appearance of your rose, it helps encourage further new blooms. Make sure to use a sharp, clean pair of secateurs to avoid any chance of spreading disease or damaging stems.
Thanks for reading.
