Roses grow well in full sun in well-drained, deep, humus-rich soil. As roses are now available in pots, they can be planted all year round. Before you plant roses stand them in a bucket of water for 24 hours so the roots can absorb as much as possible. Make sure the budding union (the thickening area above the root) also gets a good soaking.
SOIL CONDITIONS
Many gardens suffer from compacted soil or a thin layer of topsoil with subsoil underneath. Plants of any description, especially roses, will not grow in these conditions, therefore, proper soil preparation is essential. For roses, the soil should be dug over to a depth of 30cm (12ins) and you should break up the layer beneath with a fork. Well-rotted manure or compost may be added to improve the soil condition.
PLANTING AND PLANTING DISTANCE
Dig a planting hole broad and deep enough for the roots to spread and for the bud union to remain just above soil level. Having placed the rose in the hole, back fill the soil with a mix of rose fertiliser, well rotted manure and soil and press in firmly. Finally, water in well. How far apart you plant your roses will depend on the height and spread of the individual varieties but as a general guide, Hybrid teas and Floribundas should be planted approximately 75cms (30ins.) apart and rambling roses may be planted approx imately 2m (6.6ft) apart. Ground cover roses greatly depend on the growth habit of the different varieties, so follow the grower's instructions. As for miniatures roses, plant them approximately 35cms (14ins.) apart and then planting a rose hedge or rows of shrubs roses, plant larger varieties 80-100 cms (32-40ins) and smaller varieties 70-80cms (28-32ins.) apart.
PRUNING
Roses, particularly Hybrid teas and Floribundas, need to be pruned every year. If left unpruned, they will grow tall and straggly, suckers will form, the stems will die back, the leaves will fall off and both flowering and growth will be poor. The only exception to this rule are wild roses and other summering-flowering shrub roses, which need very little pruning except when they grow too large and require thinning.
WHEN TO PRUNE
Prune roses in spring, usually from early March to early April. In fact, the roses themselves will tell you when they need pruning, when the leaf and flower buds begin to swell. This will also indicate which shoots have survived the winter. Roses should be pruned just above a bud, but first cut out any old, diseased or frost-damaged wood and any crossing or overcrowded stems. Make a diagonal cut above an outward facing bud. Don't cut too close to the bud, or it will wither and the shoot that forms will be more prone to damage. Make sure your secateurs are sharp so they make a good clean cut.
PRUNING DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROSES
Hybrid teas and Floribundas - Prune tall Hybrid teas back to 4-6 buds and smaller varieties to 3-4 buds. When counting buds always start at the bud union and remember to prune just above an outward facing bud. Floribundas should be pruned back to 3-4 buds.
Shrub roses - Species and summer-flowering shrub roses should be left alone as much as possible as they flower on old wood. Dead, diseased or overcrowded stems should be pruned right back to ground level. Older roses planted more than five years can benefit from a severe pruning to rejuvenate the rose. Cut back all stems to 50cms (2ins) above ground level. These pruning rules also apply to repeat flowering shrub roses.
Climbing and Rambling roses - Rambling roses need as little pruning as possible and the young sucker-like shoots should be left alone. Remove any dead or old frost damaged wood right down to ground level. Climbing roses can also be pruned back quite severely if they are no longer growing or flowering satisfactorily and if they are not producing new shoots. Young climbing roses should be pruned in March-April but only prune back shoots that have outgrown their allotted space. In other words, prune into the shape of the trellis and remove any dead or diseased or crossing shoots.
Miniature Roses and Standard Roses can be pruned much the same way as Hybrid teas and Floribundas. Weeping standards should be pruned in the same way as ramblers, which is after all, exactly what they are. As well as cutting out old wood, remove some of the new shoots if there are too many of them. Shorten the stems that are touching the ground. Most weeping standards flower only once and therefore should be pruned after flowering.
Next week: Common pests and diseases on roses.
