Growing a Rose Garden
With our outdoor plant team member Ian
Prepare the soil: Roses will grow in most well-drained soils, but incorporate some well-rotted compost or manure before planting. If this doesn’t sound like your plot, you might want to grow them in a raised bed or large pot where you can control the soil type and enhance drainage. Dig in plenty of manure before planting to prepare your soil.
Sunlight: The majority are fully hardy and prefer a sunny position – although will do well if they get five or six hours of sun a day and are placed in an open position. There are shade-loving roses but if planting in a hot or Mediterranean climate, make sure they have partial shade to avoid scorching.
Sheltered/protected spots: Although they need good sun, don’t plant your roses anywhere where they will be exposed to high winds or extreme frosts. A sheltered spot with good light is the best place
Growing roses together: Deciding how many roses to grow in a space will depend on the type and growth habit – for instance, old roses need more space. Always research the roses you’d like to grow beforehand to ensure optimum results.
Planning flowering seasons: If you choose rose varieties that repeat flower in flushes from June to the first frosts, this allows a succession of combinations with your annuals and perennials that also keep blooming, such as phlox, lilies, penstemons and salvias.
Companion planting: Roses need plenty of moisture so planting them in crowded places will mean they have to compete. They could also get overshadowed by other plants and not get the sunlight they crave. Plant your roses 1m away from other plants and 60cm or more from other roses. For an arch like the one pictured above, this could mean planting a climber at 60cm intervals along the vertical struts. See more on companion planting below.
