It's National Rose Awareness Week (15th to 21st June) and as part of our Make it Bloom campaign, we're here to help you celebrate the nations favourite flower. Whether you're a beginner rose grower, or want to add to your existing collection, follow our easy tips for a blooming, rose-filled summer.
How to choose the right rose?
Ask anyone what flower they’d most like in their garden and the answer is almost always the same, a rose. Roses come in a huge range of styles, from big, classic shapes to simpler single-petal flowers. With more than 30,000 varieties out there, it can feel a bit overwhelming knowing where to start.
It really comes down to one simple rule - right rose, right place. Start by asking yourself two questions, how much space do you have for a rose and how sunny is it?
Patio, balcony or small garden. Opt for a miniature, patio or floribunda rose. These all do brilliantly in containers.
Border, wall or pergola. A climbing, rambling or groundcover rose will spread and fill the space beautifully.
One thing all roses have in common is they love the sun. Plant in a spot that gets at least four hours of direct sunlight a day. They like free-draining soil too, so if your garden is on the heavy or clay side, dig in some compost or manure before planting. Try to avoid anywhere too exposed as strong winds can rock the root ball and set the plant back.
How to plant a rose?
At this time of year roses come in containers, with a good root system ready to go. Unlike bareroot roses they can go in the ground any time, so plant now for beautiful summer roses.
Pick a sunny spot at least 30cm away from walls or fences. Avoid anywhere a rose has grown before, as the soil can harbour disease.
Mix some rose feed and well-rotted manure or compost into the planting hole.
Water the rose well before and after planting, and keep watering regularly through the summer while it gets established.
If you want to grow your rose in a pot we recommend using a good potting compost, making sure the container has drainage holes, and topping up the compost each winter.
What to plant with roses?
Planting your rose with companion flowers such as lavender, nepeta, salvia, alliums and hardy geraniums helps attract beneficial pollinators, while deterring pests naturally. For a wall of scent and colour, plant a climbing rose alongside a sun-loving clematis.
How to look after roses in summer?
Watering roses
Newly planted roses need a good drink every few days, then move to once a week. You will need to water more if it’s been hot and dry, especially those in full flower and any roses in pots. Just make sure the pot can drain properly, as roots sitting in water will cause problems like rot.
Deadheading roses
One of the easiest things you can do to keep your roses blooming, is snipping off the dead flowers as they fade. This is called 'dead heading' and will encourage your rose to produce a second flush of flowers. Make sure you use clean, sharp secateurs and cut just above a healthy leaf.
Feeding roses
Roses are hungry plants, and they’ll reward you for feeding them well. Slow-release granules like Miracle-Gro Rose Feed Granules work well and should be used when planting in June and again in August, to keep them going. Top that up with a liquid rose feed every couple of weeks through the flowering season, and you’ll notice the difference with an abundance of blooms.
Mulching roses
A layer of compost spread around the base of the plant (but not touching the stem) helps the soil stay moist and cool during dry spells. It only takes five minutes and will make a big difference to protecting your rose from the heat.
Pruning roses
A little pruning goes a long way. Cut at a slight angle just above an outward-facing bud, take out any dead or diseased wood, and keep the middle of the plant fairly open so air can move through it. If you’ve just planted a new rose, give it a hard prune to stop it getting leggy in its first year.
Modern bush roses, hybrid teas and floribundas are best pruned in late February or March. Cut back to around five to seven buds from the base and remove anything weak or spindly. Repeat flowering shrub roses can also be pruned this way to prepare for the year’s growing season. Climbers and ramblers are a little different, as those that flower on new growth get trained and tied in, while those that flower on last year’s wood are pruned back once flowering is over.
Meet our new rose at Gardeners World Live
We're very excited to be launching a new rose at Gardeners World Live in Birmingham this week. Named 'Glorious Day' by our family card members, this striking Floribunda Rose has vibrant yellow blooms, delicately edged in raspberry pink. It flowers freely from summer into autumn, and is ideal for planting in borders or pots.
If you're visiting Gardeners World Live make sure to drop by our stand to say hello - or sign up to our family card emails to be one of the first to know when the Glorious Day rose arrives in centre*.
*The Glorious Day rose will be available at selected British Garden Centres only.
