Your Guide To Roses

Roses have been cherished delights of the British garden for centuries. They're ornate, captivatingly fragrant, and reliable for yearly floral shows. So many positives must mean they're difficult to grow, however that couldn't be further from the truth.

Here at Harkness Roses, we pride ourselves on the quality of the varieties we produce, but even more than that, we like to unlock the door to rose growing for gardeners of all abilities and experience. We have brought together our expert knowledge into one comprehensive rose growing guide, offering essential advice on rose cultivating, from selecting the right variety for your garden to providing them with optimal care.

The diversity of roses is truly astounding. From classic Hybrid Teas to rambling climbers, there really is a rose to suit every garden style and preference. Whether you desire aromatic blooms, vibrant colours, or prefer those with an admirable resistance to disease, we will help you to choose the ideal roses for your space.

Essential Rose Care

Roses are quintessential classics of the British garden, and with varieties available in all manner of shapes and sizes, there is one to suit any space. Follow our expert advice on taking good care of your roses and you'll be treated to months of repeat-flowering action, year after year

Read on to learn how to plant, grow, nurture, and maintain roses for years to come.

Diseases
Like all plants, roses can also fall victim to unwanted diseases, however, the sooner these common issues are identified, the sooner they can be resolved.

Pests
Many pests, from aphids and caterpillars to deer and rabbits, feed off roses and this can unfortunately cause serious damage when left untreated.

Deadheading
Don't leave spent rose heads on your plants. Remove them to make way for fresh growth and to avoid the plant wasting energy on seed production.

Pruning
Little pruning, if any, is needed on some newer varieties. Prune fully around March, removing dead or damaged stems, then through the year to maintain shape.

Feeding
Roses are hungry plants but reward with bigger and better flowers. Apply feed twice a year - before flowering, then again in mid-summer after the first flush.

Soil & Composts
Rich soil that does not completely dry out is ideal for roses. Dry and sandy soil can be tolerated, but extra water will be needed during hot spells.

Watering
Every drop counts! During the growing season, May to September, keep the soil evenly moist. Your soil type and climate will determine how much water is needed.

Mulching
Mulch roses straight after feeding with manure, compost, or chipped bark, layering up to 8cm deep. Leave a 10cm gap around the stem before mulching.

Ecofective Rose Defender

The Complete Fertiliser

Give roses the best chance to thrive with the Ecofective 'Rose Defender'. Child, pet, and bee-safe, this ready-to-use pesticide protects roses from bugs and powdery mildew, while also nourishing the plant.

This contains a blend of chemicals to control pest species and wash foliage, removing any active mildew spores.

While created for roses, this blend will also work well on other flowers, shrubs, and vegetables, encouraging healthy growth and promoting vibrant blooms.

Item: 150081

£7.99

Types Of Roses

Roses vary in shape, size, growth habit, flowering ability, and more. There is one for any occasion, after all. Get the most out of your garden by planting, growing, and nurturing roses that meet your garden design aspirations, from bushy varieties to climbing beauties

Shrub Roses

Old-fashioned roses that have stood the test of time. Striking whether in a contemporary or classic cottage garden. Enjoy summer to autumn blooms from tough and hardy shrub roses.

Growing bigger than many other types, shrubs are excellent in particularly big containers or hedge displays.

See some of the best rose colours, from calming white, creams, and yellows to vibrant and attention-grabbing reds, purples, and oranges

Rose 'This Morning'

A stunning shrub rose coated in light pink blooms from summer to early autumn. Item: 531108

Climbing & Rambling Roses

One of the best ways to add vertical interest to the garden - climbing and rambling roses are go-to solutions to heighten displays. Whether coating unsightly walls or fences, or decorating a trellis or pergola, many grow with vigour, stretching upwards with beautiful blooms.

Ramblers: See more vigorous growth with a rambling rose. Smaller blooms gather in tight clusters, typically flower once in summer, ideal for covering bigger areas of the garden.

Climbers: Flowers are bigger than on rambling counterparts, but the plants tend to be more compact, therefore better suiting a smaller space or even a patio pot. Repeat flowering through summer, for waves of blooms.

Rose 'Summer Sweetheart'

A rewarding and versatile climber with up to three flushes of blooms each year. Item: 531005

Bush Roses

Classics, and some of the best. Bush roses are adaptable, filling beds, borders, pots, and more with beautiful blooms. Enjoy an abundance of blossom for many months of the year from good-sized bushes.

The flowers fall into two categories, Hybrid Tea with a single flower per stem, and cluster-forming Floribunda.

"So easy to grow, blooming in all manner of shapes and sizes against glossy green foliage. Flowers can even be snipped for indoor fresh cut vase displays".

Rose 'Oranges and Lemons Papagena'

Boasts delightfully playful shades which shine brightly in any garden display. Item: 530737

Buying Advice

Standard Roses

Harnessing clever grafting techniques, 'Standard' roses are anything but, with a clear single stem holding a thick ball of foliage and flowers aloft - just like a lollipop emerging from the ground.

These make perfect patio additions when potted, framing doors, pathways and gates with sophisticated grace. Flowering with all the might of a normal rose, these tree roses take a full three years to produce, but are supplied ready to plant and display.

Ground Cover Roses

Blankets of bright blooms spread out to cover the ground and create a carpet of colour. Wave upon wave of flowers impactfully fill borders or cascade across the sides of containers. Just a single plant can spread up to a metre wide, covering plenty of ground

With high disease resistance, winter hardy nature and a delicate scent, ground cover roses are so popular - it's not a great shock they're so easy to maintain and give such fabulous results year after year!

Bare Root

Bare root roses have been grown in the ground for 18 months or so and are lifted just as they fall dormant. Supplied cut back and without any soil, ready to be planted right away, even in winter. Despite how they look, bare roots are still healthy plants, erupting with foliage and flowers come summer, just like their potted counterparts.

Without the pot or compost, a bare root rose is seen as a cost-effective buying solution and is typically cheaper to buy.

Potted

Potted roses are supplied year-round in differing states dependant on seasonal conditions. From January to March, roses will be pruned and without leaves, April to May will be starting to sprout, June to September will boast lush foliage with buds and flowers, and finally October to December will be pruned finely.

How To Plant Your Rose

Roses can be planted in the garden at any time of the year, so long as ground conditions aren't frozen or waterlogged. Most will thrive in your garden's sunniest spots, just keep in mind the eventual growth size when planting, leaving space for them to stretch.

Rich and moist soil or compost that can easily drain is ideal to grow a rose. Get ready for planting by standing the nursery potted plant or bare root in a bucket of water for an hour or so prior to planting. Try to plant soon after receiving, but when unable to, they can be left in the supplied nursery pot for as long as needed, when in a frost-free spot and watered regularly.

1: Spread a bucket of well-rotted organic matter over the surface you intend to plant the rose, forking in 20cm or so.

2: Apply a general fertiliser across the same area, mixing in to the same depth as the organic matter.

3: Prepare a planting hole that is roughly twice the size of the existing root ball, forking over the bottom to loosen the soil.

4: Remove the plant from the pot and tease out the roots by hand. This will help them to extend outwards once in place.

5: Gently lower the rose into the centre of the prepared hole, ensuring the top of the roots is at soil level.

6: Slowly backfill with the soil removed, so it falls around the roots. This will reduce the risk of air gaps from forming.

Rose 'Marie Curie'

Dainty blooms abundantly emerge all summer long with this spray rose, with an exceptional mix of shrimp-like toned petals, including bright pink and orange. Witness clusters of smaller blooms in flushes per stem, offering a range of tight buds that open into dramatic flowers, unlike the single flowers seen per stem on long-stemmed alternatives. Item: 530434

Growing in Containers

Many choose to grow their roses in decorative patio pots or good-sized containers. This allows natural beauty to be brought onto a sunny patio, decking, or balcony.

Be sure to give these roses the same attention they would get if planted in a bed or border. Use a container that is big enough for the roots to stretch, a depth of 20-35cm is recommended. Aim for a pot that is 5cm or so larger in diameter than the width of the root ball. Buy a container with pre-inserted drainage holes or drill some yourself to avoid the risk of overwatering, which can cause rot.

Follow the previous planting step-by-step guidance, but place rocks, stones, or gravel at the bottom of the planter before the compost to boost drainage and ballast.

Feeding, Watering & Mulching

Grow bigger and better roses with a regular and consistent feed. In truth, roses are known to be particularly hungry plants and will greatly appreciate a feed, but will reward in return with strong, healthy, and abundant shows of blockbuster blooms.

The prime time for a feed, when it is most important, is through the growing season from spring to the tail end of summer, as this is when the plant is most active so will be using up energy.

A rose-specific feed, such as the Ultimate Rose 'Bloom-Booster' Complete Fertiliser, is recommended for best results. However, good quality and all-purpose plant food will also suffice.

Slow-Release Plant Food

Slow-release plant food supplies the right balance of helpful nutrients at correct time intervals. Sprinkle on the ground and fork in. Watering will activate the feed, lasting for several months.

For a freshly planted bare root rose, apply a slow-release compost right away, and fertilise the soil. Once the first flower has been produced, apply a full-strength fertiliser to reduce the risk of burning the new roots.

Liquid Feed

Liquid feed can be supplied in one of two ways. Either 'ready to use' where you would simply add the feed directly, or alternatively as a unique concentrate which means that it will need to be mixed with water before application.

These feeds absorb into the ground very quickly but will need to be applied at regular intervals while the plants are actively growing. This is often on a weekly basis.

Granular Feed

Granular feed is very quick and easy to apply as it can simply be sprinkled directly on the soil. The feed will slowly release beneficial nutrients over a period of time.

This type of feed will absorb into the ground at a slower rate than others, but will last longer, with applications typically needed every four to six weeks.

Ultimate Rose 'Bloom-Booster'

The Complete Fertiliser

Grow roses likes the pros with our complete Ultimate Rose 'Bloom-Booster' Fertiliser. New and improved, this blend of essential nutrients, including plant-friendly fungi and natural bio-stimulants, boosts and maintains healthy growth in roses and shrubs.

Whether applying when first planting a rose or giving a long-standing beauty a spring boost, you will see thriving roses and blooms all season long.

Feed annually for a release of nutrients that stretches across the growing season.

How To Use Ultimate Rose 'Bloom-Booster' Fertiliser

Shake the pack while closed to mix the ingredients. In March and April, apply to the soil around the plant, or at the time of planting.
Planting new roses Sprinkle 30g evenly into a planting hole and mix in at the outside of the hole.
To top dress Clear the soil of any leaves, weeds, or debris. Work the soil so it is open to a depth of 5-10cm.

£14.99

Watering

Roses are deep-rooted delights, so should not typically need regular watering once aged and established. Most roses can actually survive and thrive with just the moisture of the soil. In prolonged spells of hot and dry conditions, watering will be necessary.

For the first few years after planting, the roots will be establishing, so will need regular watering. Even established roses may need to be watered during a hot spell, or when planted in dry and sandy soil.

Guide to watering roses

Water directly onto the soil around the base of the plant, avoiding the foliage and flowers. This helps to deter certain fungal diseases.

During prolonged dry weather, water established roses in borders or flower beds once a week. If you notice the leaves or flowers starting to wilt, water immediately.

Roses in containers need more frequent watering - as often as needed to avoid the surface compost from drying out, without becoming waterlogged.

"The optimal time of day for watering is early morning, when little water is lost through evaporation"

Mulching

Applying a layer of mulch around a freshly planted rose, or an existing beauty, is a vastly underappreciated way of giving them a boost.

Add an 8cm deep layer of organic matter around the plant in a bed or pot, avoiding the central stem.

Mulching helps moisture retention in the soil, leading to better growth and blooms. This also suppresses weeds, preventing unwanted competition for the nutrients and water already present.

Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, will impact the roses far less, while the overall look of the plant will be much improved by the presence of mulch.

"Mulching helps your roses to retain moisture, suppresses weeds and provides valuable nutrients"

Pests & Diseases

Many roses are bred and supplied with an impressive resistance against disease, with glossy leaves being a good indicator. However, even those known to hold firm against issues can still be impacted, so be sure to know the signs and what you can do to combat common rose diseases.

Black Spot
The most common issue you could face, caused by a fungus. Round purple or black spots will form on lower or old leaves. The leaf will start to yellow around the spots, before falling. Remove any infected leaves and prune the plant to keep the centres open. Use a sulphur rose and fungicide spray to control.

Rust
Orange spots can form on the undersides of old leaves. Severe cases will see orange spores turn brown, then black, with leaves yellowing and falling. Pick off the leaves and burn them, before spraying the plant with a fungicide. Gather fallen leaves and wash the plant when dormant to avoid reinfection the following year.

Stem Canker
Appears on the canes of rose bushes. Black splotches or gnarled, swollen lesions with dead and furling bark. Typically impacts mature plants, where old wood has been exposed by previous damage. Remove the stem, or cut away damaged tissue, removing layers until only clean pith is left. Cover the scar to prevent further infection.

Powdery Mildew
Often appearing in summer, particularly when days are hot and dry, and nights are cool and wet. Leaves will start to curl and twist, with a distinctive white powder present on the leaves. To avoid, water the soil around the roses each morning. Pruning leaves back on the bush will allow air to circulate through.

Rose 'Hot Chocolate'

Vivid, burnt-orange flower buds open up into incredible and uniquely coloured smoky chocolate-red blooms against a lush background of large dark green leaves. Each flower is accompanied by an intense old-rose fragrance that will fill the air, and they make wonderful cut flowers too. Item: 530056

Thrive & Impress

A well looked-after rose has every chance to thrive and impress in the garden, however, like just about any other plant, pests and diseases always have a chance of spoiling the display.

Do not let these pests put you off growing roses, as there are many steps you can take to avoid issues from spreading. Remember, prevention is far more successful than a cure, so take these easy steps to mitigate the likelihood of an attack.

Keep your eye out for these pests that love your roses as much as you do

Aphids

Aphids are tiny insects that often multiply on buds and shoots. These insects will leave a sticky residue behind called honeydew. Spray the plant with diluted washing up liquid, washing it off after 15 minutes.

Caterpillars

Caterpillars love eating their way through plants. While they won't kill a rose, but they will leave bite marks and holes in the foliage which can ruin the overall appearance. Pick these off as and when you spot them.

Rabbits

These common garden pests love feasting on roses. Young rabbits devour tender shoots, while older rabbits strip bark off and munch higher stems. Create a fence around your roses with chicken wire to keep them out.

Leaf Rolling Sawfly

These cause tightly rolled leaves on roses. They lay eggs on young foliage before injecting a chemical that causes curling. Pick off affected leaves before the larvae hatch.

Deer

In rural spots, deer may venture into gardens for food. They love eating roses - buds, blooms, foliage, and even the thorny stems. Set up perimeter fencing and netting, or hedging, around roses, ensuring they are tall and robust.

Pruning & Deadheading

Give a boost to the long-term health of your roses by pruning. While many beginner gardeners can find pruning a daunting task, it is a satisfying and rewarding part of gardening.

Different types of roses will benefit from slightly different pruning, but as a rule of thumb, be sure to remove any stems that are dead, diseased, dying, or show damaged growth. A good prune can breathe fresh life into a rose plant, helping to shape the overall look and can even lead to the production of better flowers down the line.

Climbing Roses

Grown for their decorative nature but climbing roses can become tangled messes when left unpruned for too long. Aim to routinely prune in winter once all the flowers have faded.

Remove those dead, diseased, or dying branches to free up space and create an open display. Any new shoots that are starting to emerge can be tied to fill supports, trained horizontally, with flowered side shoots pruned back to within around two thirds of the length.

Take a step back and look at the overall plant. If you think it is getting a bit too busy, trim away older branches from the base.

Rambling Roses

Like their climbing cousins, rambling roses can become unruly if their vigorous growth and flowering isn't maintained.

Give them a good prune after planting, cutting the main stem to 30-50cm, then train the stems horizontally.

When the rambler has spread across the targeted area of the garden, wait until after flowering to thin excess growth, removing a third of the oldest stems. When growing in smaller spaces, prune all flowered stems and tie in new ones to take their place, then shorten side shoots by two thirds.

Standard Roses

Standards have beautiful heads of foliage and flowers, so keep them looking attractive by pruning back no more than a dozen buds from the graft at the centre. The lollipop appearance draws from a clear stem, so remove any side growth by cutting shoots as and when they appear.

Faded flowers can not only spoil the look of a plant, but can also block the way for fresh growth, using up valuable energy to start seed production. Remove blooms once they are spent by hand, including any developing seedheads, snapping them straight from the stem.

Shrub Roses

Pruning plays an important part in the rose lifecycle, ensuring that the rose grows vigorously and flowers well each year.

However, the pruning requirements of one shrub rose will greatly differ from the pruning requirements of another. In general, just a light prune is needed to retain a good look. Shrub roses tend to flower just once in the summer time.

If a prune is needed, cut old stems back to slightly above ground level.

Bush Roses

Aim to prune a bush rose before fresh buds start to open, either in either late winter or early spring. Cut stems back by roughly half in autumn to avoid strong winds from damaging the roots

The types of flowers grown on a bush rose will also dictate pruning, for example the stems of Hybrid Tea flowers should be shortened to 15-20cm from the ground. Meanwhile, a Floribunda-producing bush will need to be pruned more vigorously, with the main stem cut to within 20-30cm of the ground.

Red Handle Secateurs x2

This set of Bypass Secateurs are perfect for pruning roses, shrubs, and trees.

Made with hard-wearing, yet lightweight, die-cast aluminium handles and precision-engineered Teflon coated carbon steel blades. A pair of tools that no gardener should be without, they will effortlessly cut through stems and branches.

Please Note, colour may vary

£14.98

Your Guide To Roses

Essential Rose Care

Essential Rose Care

Ecofective Rose Defender

The Complete Fertiliser

Types Of Roses

Buying Advice

How To Plant Your Rose

Feeding, Watering & Mulching

Ultimate Rose 'Bloom-Booster'

The Complete Fertiliser

How To Use Ultimate Rose 'Bloom-Booster' Fertiliser

Pests & Diseases

Pruning & Deadheading

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