Rose Renaissance - David Austin Roses

We are now approaching the time when it's best to plant bareroot roses. In this article, in association with David Austin® Roses, Sandy Felton offers some advice on how to plant your roses and get the very best from your new plants.

The ideal time for planting bare roots is from November to April and buying bareroot plants is one of the most cost effective ways of buying roses. You don't pay for plastic pots for example or compost and bareroot plants are cheaper to transport. They are sent out when roses are dormant, working with the natural rhythms of the plant's growth/resting cycles, thus minimising the shock of transplanting.

The majority of David Austin's customers buy their roses as bare roots. Over 800 different varieties are available, so the only reall difficulty is deciding which variety to choose!

Buying bare roots is certainly rewarding because the following season you will have a well-established and hopefully healthy vigorous plant to reward your efforts.

First, decide where you want to plant your new rose trees. Choose a spot which gets several hours of sunlight each day and is not overhung by trees, then you can take a look at the David Austin® website - www.davidaustinroses.com - and either order from the website or order a catalogue (pictured below).

Roses often look good in groups of three of one variety, so if you have the space you might like to think about that. If you have trees or a wall in your garden you might like to grow a rambler or a climbing rose. Ramblers always looks superb growing in trees. I have an apple tree which has two climbers happily romping through its branches.

When your roses arrive plant approximately 2’6” to 3ft (1m) apart from other varieties or neighbouring plants - unless you are planting three roses of the same variety in a group - in which case you need to plant them approximately 18” (45cm) apart.

Always try and plant as soon as possible after arrival and never allow the roots to dry out. If you can’t plant immediately, keep the roses in the sealed bag or box in a cold but frost free place for no more than two weeks or alternatively heel the roses in to a patch of ground until you are ready to plant in their chosen position.

Dig a hole big enough to take the roots of the rose and the base of the stock. When planted the base of the stems should be about 3” (7.5cm) below ground level. One of the major mistakes people make when planting roses is not to plant them deep enough. The result is the base of the rose (the stock) tends to sit high on the ground and this causes the rose tree to rock in the wind and become unstable. It is also likely to get damaged if not planted deep enough.

Always apply fertilizer when you first plant the rose. At David Austin® they use David Austin Rose Food. A treatment of Rootgrow will certainly get your rose off to a good start. Rootgrow is an organic treatment that improves the vigour of the rose when incorporated at planting. It contains 5 different types of mycorrhizal fungi which occur in most natural ecosystems. Rootgrow will also help improve the plant’s disease resistence and will help the root system to develop.

Many people have heard of ‘rose sickness’. Experienced gardeners will tell you that you should never plant a rose where one has been before. The only recommended way of overcoming it was by changing the soil to a depth and width of 18" (50cm) or waiting many years for it to "disappear". The normal application of Rootgrow and a generous quantity of well rotted manure or garden compost will help overcome rose replant disease. As far as I am aware it has been completely effective in all cases where it has been used.

When you have planted your rose make sure that it is given a good drink. Roses like moist cool root runs so it's a good idea to mulch the plant especially in spring. During the first year of the rose’s life it is important to keep the plant well watered.

At some point during March/April feed the rose and then again in June. Your rose will grow happily away and will need minimal care during the rest of the season. Dead head the old faded blooms to encourage new growth and watch out for invasive pests such as greenfly – and that's it!

Roses are one of the gardener's most valuable plants. They are good investment and they will reward you with colour and often with fragrance right through the growing season. I have even had roses flowering at Christmas!

David Austin® offer a rose design service free of charge for a rose garden of any size. Log onto www.davidaustinroses.com for more information.

Catalogues are now available for ordering your bare roots – log onto: www.davidaustinroses.com/english/cat.asp