David Austin Roses Limited

Roses are easy to grow and remarkably
tolerant. To achieve good results, it is only
necessary to get a few basic points right.
However, roses will respond well to extra
care and attention by being more floriferous
and healthy. Here is our care advice for home
gardeners.
PLANTING TIME
Containerised roses can be planted all
year round, although extra attention to
watering will be required in hot spells
until the roses are well established.
PLANTING POSITION
Select a site with at least four hours of
sun each day, although in areas with hot
summers shade from the afternoon sun
can be beneficial. Generally roses will
not flourish where their roots are in
competition with the roots of other
plants, especially trees and hedges.
PLANTING DISTANCES
If you have the space English Roses look
superb planted in groups of three or
more of one variety. They will then grow
together to form one dense shrub, which
will provide a more continuous display
and make a more definite statement in
the border. Depending on the varieties
and your climate we suggest planting
about 1m apart within the group, leaving
1 – 1.5m between plants of neighbouring
varieties.
SOIL TYPE
Roses will grow in a wide range of soils,
but they do appreciate good soil
preparation. The addition of well rotted
manure or garden compost before
planting will help ensure strong growth.
ROSE CULTIVATION
PLANTING
Containerised roses should be soaked for
30 minutes or so just prior to planting.
On arrival plant the bare root roses as
soon as possible, never allowing the roots
to dry out. When planted, the base of
the stems should be about 3" below
ground level in cold winter areas and at
ground level in milder areas. If
immediate planting is impossible, keep
the roses in the sealed box in a cold but
frost free place or heel the roses in.
Water generously until the plant is well
established. We recommend the use of
David Austin’s ‘Start’.
PLANTING IN CONTAINERS
See page 49 for information on this.
FEEDING, MULCHING AND WATERING
Feeding, generous mulching and
occasional deep watering will help
encourage strong growth and more
flowers. Mulch in spring, preferably using
well rotted manure or garden compost.
HEALTHY ROSES
The best way to keep your roses healthy
is to choose disease resistant varieties and
grow them as well as possible. Excessive
Nitrogen can make roses more
susceptible to both pests and diseases.
However, an occasional spray can help,
the most effective being at the start of
the season before symptoms develop.
Beware of frosts the night after spraying -
they will scorch the leaves badly. There
are different chemicals and laws
restricting their use, so we recommend
that you seek the latest advice from your
garden centre team, nursery or local rose
society.
54
WINTER PRUNING
Pruning is very easy. The recommended
time to prune is in July and August. On
all plants, remove very weak, old and
woody and dead and diseased stems.
English Shrub Roses
Prune back by between 1/3 and 2/3,
depending on what height you would like
your rose to reach next season. Each year
remove some of the older stems to
encourage fresh, new growth from the base.
English Climbing Roses
The previous year’s flowering shoots
should be reduced to 3 or 4 buds or
about 10 – 15cm and the strong, new
stems tied in, cutting out older ones as
necessary.
DEAD-HEADING
Unless you particularly desire the winter
colour that hips provide, we recommend
that you aim to prevent hips from
forming as these tend to reduce repeatflowering.
Dead-heading is the removal
of spent flowers, which might otherwise
go on to form hips. This not only
encourages repeat-flowering, but also
makes a tidier plant. Either remove just
the dead flower, or cut the stems down to
the first full leaf.
SUMMER PRUNING
In warm climates it may be beneficial to
summer prune by cutting back most of
the spent flowering shoots about 50cm,
leaving just about 15cm. This can be
repeated through the season as the rose
repeat flowers and will encourage more
compact growth and quicker repeatflowering.