Rose 'The Fairy'

Roses are one of the most rewarding plants to grow in the garden, offering beautiful blooms, wonderful scent and long-lasting colour. With the right care and positioning, roses will thrive for many years and provide a stunning focal point in borders, beds and containers. This guide covers everything you need to know to grow healthy, floriferous rose plants.

Choosing the Right Type of Rose

There are many types of roses available, each suited to different garden styles and planting positions. Choosing the right type will help ensure lasting success.

Bush Roses Ideal for borders and rose beds, bush roses offer repeat flowering and a wide range of colours and fragrances.

Climbing Roses Perfect for walls, fences and arches, climbing roses produce long stems that can be trained to cover vertical structures.

Ground Cover Roses Low-growing and spreading, these roses are excellent for covering large areas, slopes and the front of borders with minimal maintenance.

Preparing the Soil for Roses

Roses grow best in fertile, well-drained soil that retains moisture without becoming waterlogged.

Soil Preparation Before planting, dig the soil thoroughly and remove weeds. Mix in plenty of organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure and fertility.

Planting Position Choose a sunny spot that receives at least six hours of sunlight a day. Good air circulation helps reduce the risk of disease.

Planting and Aftercare

Plant roses so the root ball is at the same level as it was in the pot. Firm the soil gently and water well after planting.

Watering Water regularly during the first growing season to help the plant establish, particularly during dry spells.

Feeding Apply a rose feed in spring and again in summer to encourage healthy growth and repeat flowering.

Pruning and Maintenance

Most roses benefit from annual pruning in late winter or early spring to remove dead or weak stems and encourage fresh growth.

With good soil preparation, regular feeding and the right pruning, roses will reward you with abundant blooms and healthy growth year after year.

Roses are supplied either as bare root plants or established potted plants, depending on the time of year. Both formats are easy to grow and will produce strong, healthy plants when planted correctly. This guide explains what to expect and how to care for your rose plants when they arrive.

Bare Root Roses

Bare root roses are supplied during autumn and winter, which is the ideal time for planting. Although they may look simple and leafless, bare root plants are full of stored energy and establish quickly once planted.

How they arrive Bare root roses should be unpacked immediately and planted as soon as possible. Full planting and care instructions are included.

If you can’t plant straight away Keep the roots covered with moist soil in a cool, sheltered place and lay the stems on a dry surface. Aim to plant within seven days.

Planting bare root roses Soak the roots in a bucket of water for a couple of hours before planting. Dig a generous hole, improve the soil with compost, and position the rose so the graft union sits level with the soil surface. Backfill, firm gently and water well.

Potted Roses

Potted roses are supplied ready to plant and can be planted at almost any time of year, avoiding frozen or extremely dry conditions.

How they arrive Plants are carefully selected and pruned to form a strong, open framework. The pot is wrapped to retain moisture and protect the roots during transit.

If you can’t plant straight away Place the pot in a sheltered outdoor spot and water regularly to keep the compost moist.

Planting in the ground or containers Dig a hole slightly wider than the rootball and plant at the same depth as the pot. Improve the soil with organic matter, firm in and water well. Roses are equally happy in borders or large containers in a sunny position.

Seasonal appearance

The appearance of roses varies by season. In spring they show fresh growth, in summer they may arrive in leaf or flower, and in autumn and winter they may be dormant or leafless. This is completely natural and all plants have healthy root systems ready to grow when conditions improve.

Feeding and aftercare

Prune bush roses in early spring, feed with a rose fertiliser in spring and summer, and deadhead regularly to encourage repeat flowering. Tie climbing roses into supports as they grow to maintain shape and promote flowering.

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