Rose Plant Care Guide

Arguably one of the most beautiful blooms, the rose is a joy to have in the garden. This perennial plant is well worth tending for its fantastic floral display and beautiful scent.

There are lots of colours and species to choose from, such as climbing roses or the classic shrub, though all require the same care. 

We’ve put together a guide full of rose plant care tips to help these lovely flowers thrive. 

Rose Plant Care Tips

Roses have often been considered hard to grow, but over the last twenty years or so, selective breeding has resulted in a much better performance. We offer proven varieties that are highly resistant to common diseases and guaranteed to grow well, so you can enjoy these beautiful plants without the frustration. 

Depending on the time of year, we supply our roses as either ‘potted’ and ‘bare root’. They can be cared for the same way so all the advice in this guide will help you with both. Here are a few general tips to begin with:

• Whichever type you’re planting, use a Rose & Shrub Feed instead of Fish, Blood & Bone to give them the best chance to thrive.
• Plant your roses around 1-1.2m apart to allow them room to grow, but they can be pruned easily to the size you want. 
• Prune them each year in early spring ahead of any new growth.

Cut old and spindly stems down by about 60% with some high quality pruners.

How to Plant Bare Root Roses

A  ‘bare root’ rose is dormant with no leaves and the roots out of the soil. They may look like dead sticks when you receive them but don’t worry, they’ve just been trimmed and will thrive once planted!

Caring for Bare Root Roses Before Planting

When you receive your roses, soak the roots in water for a minimum of two hours or, ideally, overnight. If you can’t plant them as soon as you receive them, they should be fine for up to two weeks if left in a cool, dark place away from frost. Keep the bag around the roots with some water inside.

Planting Bare Root Roses: A Step by Step Guide

1. Choose a place with plenty of space to give your roses room to grow.
2. Dig a hole twice the width of the roots, forking over the bottom to loosen the soil.
3. Add some high quality fertiliser and plant at the same depth as the soil mark. If the tree has been grafted, make sure the graft point (the ‘knuckle’ at the bottom) is 10cm above soil level.
4. Holding the plant with one hand, backfill the hole with soil gradually with your other hand so it falls back around the roots.
5. If you’re planting into pots, place some old rocks, stones or gravel in the bottom for drainage and ballast. Use a good quality compost and fertiliser, and water at least once a week.

How to Plant Roses in Pots

Roses can grow in pots just as well as they can grow in the ground, which is great news for patios and smaller gardens. 

During the summer, roses are generally potted up into protective nursery pots with fresh growth beginning to appear.

These plants are more established and can be planted all year round but if you can’t plant them straight away, they can be left in their nursery pots for as long as you need. It’s fine to keep them outside as long as they’re well-watered and kept away from frost. 

Plant potted roses the same way you would a bare root (see our step-by-step guide above), but just dig a hole to fit the pot. Break up the soil at the base to allow the roots to grow deep into the hole. Before planting, give your rose a good watering and  then gently ease it out of its nursery pot. Loosen the soil around the roots with your fingers, then place into your hole. Lightly firm the soil around your rose and water well.

To plant into a pot or container, follow the same steps as before. Make sure your pot is large enough so that the rose has plenty of growing space. Deadhead frequently during the summer months to encourage more flowers and growth. 

How Often to Water Roses in Pots

Water your roses at least once a week, especially when the  weather’s on the warmer side to make sure they don’t dry out. 

Types of Roses

There are all different types of roses: shrub roses, climbers, groundcover and standard roses, which come in a wide selection of colours, scents and other characteristics.