Did you know.....Although roses can be grown in any garden, certain varieties do have likes and dislikes, those varieties that have lots of petals tend to enjoy drier weather, as they like to open their petals for the glorious sunshine, whereas roses with fewer petals thrive better in areas with a higher rainfall.
Step by step guide to growing roses
Where to plant roses
Roses will grow and flower with lttle intervention, although to get the best out of them, they do prefer to be planted in a sunny open position with good drainage. Don't plant roses under the shade of over-hanging trees or in water-logged soil, as they will not thrive under these conditions.
Prepare your site
Roses can survive in any kind of soil, but the site chosen is best prepared a few weeks prior to planting your new rose bush. Dig over the entire site to twice the depth of your spade, this is best done by removing the top "spit" (1st spade depth) and placing to one side, and then dig over the second spit (2nd spade depth) in situ. If your soil has clay at the bottom of spit 2, simply dig it over thoroughly and add some lime to it, this enables the clay to break down easier. The top spit of soil should be broken up freely, and then add some well rotted manure, compost or leaf mould, or all 3 if you wish! It doesn't really matter what you use as long as the additives are well mixed in to the soil. Don't leave large clumps of manure in the soil as this may damage the roots and stem of the rose bush. Many gardeners like to add bonemeal or fish manure to the mixture, and those with sandy soil like to add sulphate of potash. Place the soil from the 1st spit back onto the bottom spit and leave to settle for a couple of weeks.
When to plant roses
All types of rose trees can be planted from late October to late March, as long as the ground is not frozen.
How to plant roses
The roots of a rose bush should never be left to dry out and should be plunged into a bucket of water prior to planting, let the rose bush stand for a couple of hours and cut off any damaged or decayed shoots. Make the planting hole at least 15 inches in diameter, and deep enough for the "budding union" (the bulgy part where the main stem starts) to be level with the surface soil. Once your hole has been dug, add a handul of moist peat, bonemeal and fne soil into the middle to form a mound, place your rose bush on top of the mound, and spread the roots carefully. Try not to bend or twist the roots. Add faine soil around the roots, carefully shaking the rose bush as you do, this enables gaps between the roots to be filled in. Press the soil down firmly with your foot, leaving the budding union on the surface.
Routine care of roses
Roses can be affected by nitrogen, phosphorous, potash or even magnesium deficiency. These can all be remedied by applying fertilizers to the soil.
Nitrogen deficiency: Pale green leaves with weak growth
Remedy: Use a nitrogen fertilizer
Phosphorous deficiency: Bronze or purple markings on foliage with fewer, smaller blooms
Remedy: Apply bone meal to soil
Potash deficiency: Rose bushes develop a scorched appearance, with browing around the edge of the leaves
Remedy: Apply sulphate of potash at approximately 3oz per square yard, or wood ashes at 6oz per sq yd
Magnesium deficiency: Older leaves will develop a purple or yellow discolouration between the veins. Starts on the bottom leaves and works it way up
Remedy: Apply magnesium sulphate, otherwise known as Epsom Salts. Dilute
½ to 1lb per 10 gallons of water
Towards late May roses like to have a layer of mulch applied. Suitable mulching material includes well-rotted farm manure, leaf mould, well-rotted compost, hop manure, tree bark shavings or even freshly cut lawn mowings. Before applying a mulch make sure that all traces of weeds have been removed, and that the soil is thoroughly wet.
Roses like to be watered in the evening, with plenty of water. Make sure that you don't just sprinkle the surface soil, as the deeper roots require the most watering. Try not to sprinkle water onto the foliage, as this will mark them.
Some rose bushes will produce suckers, which are best removed with a sharp knife, as close as possible to the point of origin, which may be below the soil level.
Different types of roses
Bush rose - an excellent choice of rose bush that varies in height, best planted as a single specimen on it's own to appreciate their beautiful blooms. Florabundas and Hybrid Tea Roses are also represented as bush roses.
Standard rose - Again, an ideal single specimen, but do look effective when planted in rows of straight lines. Standard roses are grown on stems which are about 3½ tall.
Climbing rose - Suitable to grow against walls, pillars, over arches or pergolas. Flowers are normally individual, and tend to be larger that the rambling rose. Some varieties bloom more or less continuously through the summer months.
Rambling rose - Although very similar to the climbing rose, the rambler does not like to be grown against a wall, as it will be prone to mildew. These vigourous climbers tend to be slow starters, but once established they will produce a profusion of small flowers once a year, in clusters.
Miniature rose - This is the exact replica of a hybrid tea rose, but in miniature, Height wise, they range between 6 and 15 inches, and are ideal for planting on the edge of flower beds, in rock gardens, window boxes or planters.
Recommended varieties of roses
Rhapsody in Blue - A glorious dark purple specimen
Hot Chocolate - Rich brown chocolate coloured blooms
Sweet Dreams - The best selling British rose ever, with sales in excess of 4.5 million. Launched by Fryer's Roses back in 1988
Claret - A dark crimson rose with velvety petals
Cooking with Roses
Rose Hip Apple Jelly
|
Growing Roses... 
