Rose Bush Plant 'It's A Wonderful Life'

Guide Rose Plant Sizes

Bare Root Roses

How you will receive your plant:

Your bare root rose will arrive at your door at the right time for planting in autumn or into winter. Don't be fooled by their appearance - bare roots are bursting with energy and planting them in autumn and winter is the best way to guarantee strong, healthy and thriving plants in spring and summer.

Unpack them straight away and plant as soon as possible after delivery.

Your bare root roses will be sent out with full planting and care instructions.

Can’t plant straight away?

If you can’t plant right away, keep the roots buried under soil in cool, moist soil and lay the stems on a dry, hessian sack. We recommended you aim to plant them within seven days.

Planting tips and hints:

Before planting bare root roses, soak the roots in a bucket of cold water for a couple of hours to rehydrate them.

Plant roses into good garden soil that has been well dug and weeded; improve poor soil with compost.

Use a shovel to dig a hole wide enough to take the roots of the rose without cramping. Position the rose centrally in the planting hole with the bump on the stem (the graft union) level with the soil surface.

Backfill with soil to cover the rose’s roots, firm in gently and water well. Add a fertiliser to the soil when backfilling.

Potted Roses

How you will receive your plant:

Selected by our team of experts and sent from our nursery, you will receive your plant in a pot, ready to plant out.

The rose itself is pruned to three or four main stems which form an open and attractive framework once the bud come into leaf and produce attractive young red-tinged leaves. Each stem is expertly pruned to just above a bud for healthy plant growth.

Your pot is wrapped in polythene to encourage humidity and maintain moist soil. You can keep your plant in its pot until you have time to plant it in a larger container or a flower bed. Plant on a clear, dry rain. Add Westland Naturally Rich Rose Food to the bottom of your planting hole to give your plant a boost to the roots. We also recommend that you give your plant a thorough water after planting.

Can’t plant straight away?

Place the pot in a sheltered spot outdoors and water regularly to keep the soil moist.

Planting in the ground:

Dig a hole slightly wider than the rootball of the plant. Place the plant in the hole so that it sits at the same level in the ground as it did in the pot. When backfilling, mix in a soil improver such as well-rotted farmyard manure. Firm the soil around the plant and water well.

Planting in containers:

Place them on a sunny patio with plenty of trellis for it to climb up or plant in a wall border to create a backdrop for a wonderful cottage garden planting scheme. Wisteria 'Amethyst Falls' produces an unbelievable late spring and summer display of dense clusters of purple flowers.

When to plant and what to expect at different times of the year

You can plant hardy shrubs, trees and perennials at any time of the year avoiding the two extremes of heat and cold. During the summer months when it is hot and dry the need for watering becomes crucial to aid successful establishment and in the winter when the soil is frozen the plants will not be in active growth either above or below ground and risk getting cold damage. The same is true on the stage or growth you can expect your plants to be delivered in and this will be directly related to the time of year and the season.

When ordering through the year, here’s a summary of what to expect when receiving your plants:

Spring Months: Plants supplied in spring will be starting to show signs of active growth above and below ground.

Summer Months: Plants supplied in the late summer will be more advanced in size and flower stage

Autumn Months: In the autumn plants will be changing colour, showing signs of leaf colour breakdown and be preparing to shut down for winter.

Winter Months: Plants ordered and supplied during the winter months will be dormant and therefore may not be showing growth above the soil level or consist of bare branches with no leaves or bare roots with no soil.

These are all perfectly normal and natural for these types of plants growing in the northern hemisphere. All will still have a very healthy root system that can be planted when the weather is favourable by keeping the new soil level equal to the pot level and therefore not covering the crown of the plant at all. Planting during the autumn and winter months will allow for early establishment in the season and a bigger and better display throughout the main growing season.

Feeding and aftercare:

Prune bush roses to shape in early spring.

Feed with a high potash feed such as Sulphate of Potash in late spring.

Deadhead spent flowers as they fade to prolong the display.

Tie climbing roses into strong supports as they grow.

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