Romance and Roses

Next month there will be plenty to do in the garden as spring creeps slowly in.  This month however will be the last chance to catch up on any outstanding winter jobs.

Planting bare root Roses and Rose pruning are top of the ‘to do’ list.  As it’s Valentines Day this month I thought I’d take a look at Roses as Romance and Roses are inextricably linked.

Valentines Day gifts of Romance and Roses:

When I revamped my front garden recently I asked for a living rose for Valentines Day rather than cut flowers.  I chose Brother Cadfael (fictitious medieval monk, herbalist and detective) and I also received Gertrude Jekyll (Influential Victorian British horticulturalist, garden designer and writer) for my birthday.  Both have dense heads of delicate pink, fragrant petals and are David Austin English Old Rose Hybrids.

Roses as Gifts:

There are the plenty to choose from.  Pink peony types, as mentioned above, beautiful Reds like

‘Darcy Bussell’ Photo Courtesy of David Austin Roses

or something yummy like Rosa ‘Hot Chocolate’

Rosa ‘Hot Chocolate’  What’s not to like?

The gift of a living rose, whether it’s for Valentines Day a Golden or Ruby wedding anniversary or a birthday, will keep on giving year after year.

Rose pruning tips:

Climbing Roses:

Train climbers into a framework of closely spaced horizontal branches for maximum flowers.  After flowering prune back each vertical flowering stem to 3 to 4 sets of leaves.

Tie in any new, strong growth whilst it is still flexible.

In winter remove any dead, weak or unproductive stems and replace them with new vigorous growth.

I’ve spent many a pleasant afternoon at the end summer pruning rose pergolas.

Rambling Roses:

These can be left to their own devices unless they need to be constrained.  Tie in news stems whilst still flexible and cut out old stems as necessary.

Shrub roses:

These are best pruned in late winter (February or March) when the new buds begin to show and the worst of the frosts have past.

A few basic rules:

• When cutting roses, to either deadhead, remove dead wood or annual pruning, always cut no more than 5mm (¼ in) above a bud and slope the cut away from it.
• Cut to an outward facing bud to help the rose to keep an open centre on shrubs and direct growth on climbers into its own space.
• Cut out dead, diseased and damaged stems and any that are spindly or crossing.

Planting a Rose:

Bare root plants can be planted between November and March so now is your last chance to get those Roses in the ground.

Container grown plants can be planted all year round as long as the soil around them is kept moist and the ground is not frozen or too dry.

• Mix plenty of well rotted organic mater and a general purpose fertiliser or mycorrhizal fungi (do not apply both) with the top 30cm of soil in the planting area.
• Dig a hole twice the width of the plant’s roots and the depth of a spade’s blade.
• Place the plant in the hole ensuring the graft union is at soil level not below.
• Back-fill with the excavated soil and organic matter mixture.
• Spacing depends on type and habit. Check label details.
• If replacing old roses with new ones, replace the soil with a fresh supply, to prevent disease.

Feeding:

Feed Roses in Spring, after flowering and during the growing season.  Slow release or organic fertilisers are most effective.  Refer to packet for dosage and frequency.

Good companions:

Alleviate the problem of potential pests by growing Roses alongside other plants which attract beneficial insects.

Roses with an edging of Nepeta

Edging plants:

Traditionally rose gardens had low box hedges.  As we now know that it is beneficial to have insect attracting flowers surrounding our roses, choose from Nepeta, Lavender or Wall Germander.

Consider a Lavender edging

Roses amongst the flowers:

Choose flowers that compliment your roses in colour and contrast with them in shape.  Some good examples would be Alliums, Asters, Eryngiums (Sea Hollies), Nigella (Love-in-a-mist), Foxgloves and Salvias.

Gertrude Jekyll amongst the flowers Photo Courtesy of David Austin Roses 

Above all else, Enjoy!

If you know anyone who would find these tips useful, please feel free to share.

 Article first published in Bourne Market Place Magazine February 2016