Roses

The most popular roses grown in gardens are hybrid teas, which flower from spring to autumn with some persisting into winter. Roses come in many sizes, shapes and colours. While roses are loved for their perfume, not all are scented so if perfume is important for your love of roses, check for scent before making a final selection.

As well as the familiar hybrid tea roses, there are floribundas, which have clusters of smaller flowers; climbing roses, rugosa roses and many old-fashioned species and cultivars. Some of these old-fashioned roses are only spring flowering.

Roses are deciduous plants that lose their leaves over winter. They are often planted in winter when they are dormant. Newly planted roses will flower in spring. Remember to add Seasol Plant + Soil Booster to the hole when planting and water them in with Seasol to reduce transplant shock and aid plant establishment.

Growing conditions

Aspect Roses need a sunny location with full sun for most of the day. Roses grown with too much shade become leggy, prone to disease, and may fail to flower.

Soil Roses grow in a wide range of soils but do best in a neutral to slightly alkaline soil pH (around 6-7) ideally with deep, moisture retentive soils.

Climate Roses grow in all climates but prefer areas with low humidity such as Mediterranean climates. Although some varieties grow well in subtropical and tropical zones they may be afflicted by fungal problems. If fungal problems trouble your roses apply EarthCare Rose Black Spot & insect spray.

General care

Watering Adequate and regular watering are important especially in spring and summer. Water regularly if plants are in hot, dry or exposed conditions or if they are growing in containers. Avoid watering foliage to reduce disease problems.

Feeding and mulching Feed roses in through spring to autumn using a complete rose fertiliser such as Seasol plus Nutrients Roses & Flowers. As roses are hungry feeders an additional liquid feed such as PowerFeed PRO SERIES for Roses & Flowers can be applied every 2 to 4 weeks. Plants in containers can be liquid fed every 2 to 4 weeks with PowerFeed PRO SERIES Roses & Flowers or PowerFeed All Purpose including Natives while they are going and flowering. Regular applications of Seasol also assist drought hardiness and disease resistance.

Mulch all roses well with organic mulch such as lucerne, sugar cane or straw. Add well-rotted manure to the mulch to keep roses strong and healthy.

Pruning Hybrid tea roses are hard pruned in mid winter (prune in late winter in cold zones) cutting back by at least a third or more. Dead head throughout the flowering season and give a summer prune in mid to late summer to encourage a flush of flowers in autumn.

Watch for Generally roses are affected by several pests including aphids and scale. Aphids feed on new shoots and may be controlled by small birds and predatory insects such as ladybirds. They can also be hosed, squashed or treated with a registered insecticide such as EarthCare Enviro Pest Oil insect spray. Control scale by a winter spray after pruning using a lime-based spray such as Sharp Shooter Lime Sulphur, which also controls rose diseases. Possums also attack roses and plants may need to be protected from them as the plants are forming new growth and buds.

Of great concern to gardeners is the rose disease known as black spot, which causes leaves to fall and can reduce the appearance and overall vigour of the bush. Preventative rose sprays are available to apply during the growing season such as EarthCare Rose Black Spot & insect spray. Alternatively look for disease-resistant varieties. Remove fallen and diseased leaves and ensure that plants are well mulched, fed and watered and are growing in an open, sunny position without competition from other plants.