Rose Planting and Care Guide
Soil Preparation & Planting
Deeply dig over the bed or border and incorporate a generous amount of garden compost or well- rotted manure. Dig individual planting holes 1ftx1ft, mix a little compost in the bottom. You can add a sprinkling of Rootgrow powder in the base of the hole to encourage good root growth. Then place the rose bush in the hole at correct depth (when you infill the hole, aim to cover the base of the stems). Fill the hole completely and firm down well with the heel of your boot. Water well.
Feeding
Adding Vitax Q4 or rose fertilizer as a base dressing when planting will help to give a healthy start to your rose bush. Two further top dressings are very beneficial during the growing season (March and June are ideal). Alternatively, a liquid feed can be used such as Empathy liquid seaweed rose food.
Pruning
Newly planted hybrid teas, floribunda and patio roses should be pruned to 4"-6" above ground during Feb/March depending on the weather (delay in cold areas or winters).
Shrub and English roses require a light trimming to shape again in February and March.
Climbers and ramblers do not need pruning except to shape for training if required which can be done in the winter.
Prune just above a bud with an angled downwards cut away from the bud. Choose an outward facing bud & remove any stems that are crossing over to create an open-shaped plant. Cut any dead stems back to healthy growth.
Rose Sickness
This is a mysterious complaint that affects newly planted roses in soil that has recently had roses growing in it before. A build up of soil pests and depletion of trace elements are factors which may prevent a new rose succeeding. Digging out the old soil and replacing it with fresh soil from another part of the garden which hasn't grown roses for at least 10 years is strongly recommended. The addition of a root-enhancement compound which contains mycorrhizal fungi should help the young plant establish itself. We stock Rootgrow in various sizes which is ideal.
Rose Planting Hints & tips
Before Planting Bare root roses: Please plant your rose(s) as soon as possible, we keep them in buckets with plenty of moist peat-free compost in the nursery. If the conditions are very frosty, or the soil is waterlogged, cover the roots with damp compost until you are ready to plant (but don’t stand them in a bucket of water).
Potted roses: Container-grown roses can be planted at any time of year but make sure you prepare the soil thoroughly before planting and avoid planting when the ground is waterlogged or frozen.
NB: Roses are fully hardy and need to be planted outside as soon as possible. DO NOT keep them indoors or in a shed/conservatory before planting - they will not be happy!
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