Smart approaches to growing a flourishing rose garden

With spring upon us, many gardeners are entering full-on gardening mode. Thinking about the warmer weather brings to mind an abundance of gardening project ideas. Still, one project in particular really gets gardeners excited, and a bit nervous, about spring colour and getting their hands dirty: the enchanting rose garden.

Growing a rose garden can be easy

Growing a rose garden can be easyNovice gardeners, don’t be intimidated! We have put together an easy-to-use list of tips that are easy enough for beginner gardeners to tackle, but also important for all growers to remember when creating, or tending to, a set of rosy blooms this season.

Choose wisely for your rose garden

The rose bush you choose to plant should have at least one blooming rose. We recommend this

because you will know the colour of the petals, and the rose bush will be lovely and fragrant.

Select your ideal rose

The Iceberg Climber

This beautiful and small white rose is possibly the most free flowering of all roses. Plant this rose variety on a loose hedge, train it over pergolas or plant it as a shrub. We love this rose as it flowers profusely and continuously once the plant has matured – from its second season. Learn more.

Pink Knockout

Pink Knockout is known as a black spot-resistant, drought-tolerant and self-cleaning rose variety. This is the perfect companion to other shrubs, roses and perennials and adds a bright pop of colour to your garden. See it here.

Banksiae ‘Lutea’

Tight clusters of small, full and soft yellow blooms make this the perfect summer addition to a yard. These are known as climbers and can cover complete fences and trees if left unchecked. Lightly prune this beauty to retain its flowering buds. Explore more.

Deloitte & Touché

Deloitte & Touché roses are a blend of peach, apricot with tones of orange, which almost fade to salmon pink as they age. This shrub produces many full-bloom clusters and grows well if planted in a pot in full sun. Find out more.

Germiston Gold

These golden-yellow roses were named in honour of the centenary year of Germiston in 1986. The medium-sized, urn-shaped buds are sharply pointed. Opening blooms feature broad and firm petals. On both sides of its 30 petals, the deep yellow colour stands out in the sun. Get more information.

Browse our full range of rose varieties to choose a colour palette that suits you and your garden.

Curate your rose garden

It can also be tricky to choose just a few roses to actually plant in your rose garden. While it is tempting to fill your garden with as many beautiful rose varieties as you find lovely to look at, start your rose garden with a modest selection at first.

Prep your site

Planting roses takes a lot of preparation. A good rule of thumb to remember is to make sure the holes you are digging are about two times wider than your plant’s root ball, but about the same height. Pour some water into the hole and add fertiliser before placing the plant into the freshly dug hole. This will help establish the rose plant much more quickly, allowing the plant to start producing flowers faster!

How to care for roses 101

We need to start at the basics. Hit these six simple must-haves for how to grow a rose garden bigger, better and more beautiful than ever before.

1. Pick your site carefully. Roses crave sun; at least six hours a day is ideal for roses to thrive.
2. Plant roses in slightly acidic, well-draining soil. Mix compost or ground bark into your soil and if you are using planters, ensure they have drainage holes at the bottom so that the water drains quickly.
3. Mulch. Add a layer of approximately 5cm of coarse organic mulch around roses. This mulch helps reduce foliage disease as it reduces the amount of water splashing on the leaves.
4. Deep water your roses, infrequently. Apply water directly to the soil and check the soil with your finger to create consistently moist soil – not overly wet, but not bone dry.
5. Roses hate standing water. Never set the container or pot on a saucer to collect the excess water. Standing water could cause root rot and diseases.
6. Check roses often. Catching problems, such as insects or diseases, early makes them easier to treat.
7. Prune. Roses need regular pruning.

Growing different varieties of roses in your rose garden is a breeze as long as you choose the right variety for you and your garden. For more gardening tips and helpful resources, follow us on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.