Originating from China, the earliest modern rose was the tea rose. With centuries of breeding, modern roses today flower continuously from spring to autumn. There are single, semi-double and double flowered forms in every colour imaginable, many with fragrance beyond belief.

Selection 

Roses are deciduous shrubs. 

Hybrid Tea roses grow from 1 to 2 metres in height with large double flowers on single stems. Some are fragrant. 

Floribunda roses grow 1 to 1.5 metres in height with many clusters of flowers on one stem. 

Climbers or pillar roses grow 2 metres plus in height. Some have hybrid tea type flowers others floribunda clusters. 

Old Fashioned roses are often called species roses. Some grow to 4 metres in height, some are fragrant and have colourful hips in winter. 

English roses (modern shrub) are bred to retain the best old fashioned rose traits of fragrance and flower form, but benefit from modern breeding being disease resistant and continuous flowering. They grow to a height of 1 to 2 metres.  

David Austin roses are popular English roses. 

Miniature roses grow from a height of 15 to 50cm, are compact bushes, do not require pruning and are great in patio pots and tubs.

When to Plant 

• The best time to plant is in winter. If planting in spring or summer, keep well watered.

Where to Plant 

• Plant in a sunny, open position
• Roses like a rich well drained soil. Prepare the soil before planting by digging in plenty of compost and a dressing of Tui Rose food
• Raise beds in clay soil to improve drainage

How to Plant 

• Before planting cut away any damaged branches
• Aim for 3 to 4 main leaders, use sharp secateurs 
• Cut the main leaders to within 4 to 5 buds from the base of the plant
• Plant the rose to a depth level with the bud union just above the soil

Pruning                                                                                                                                                                                

• Prune roses when they are dormant in winter
• Remove weak or diseased growth to encourage new growth in spring
• Always use sharp secateurs
• Make the pruning cut 5mm above a bud on a 45 degree angle slanting backwards 
• Remove spent flower heads in summer for continuous flowering

Watering 

• Roses require regular watering throughout summer
• Deep watering is more effective than light sprinklings
• Avoid wetting the foliage as this encourages the spread of fungus diseases

Mulching

• Mulch roses in early spring and again in mid summer with a compost or mulch. Mulching keeps the roots cool and moist

Feeding

• Roses require regular feeding
• Use a balanced fertiliser such as Tui Rose food
• Feed roses in early spring when new growth appears and again in mid summer
• Water in well

Pests and Diseases 

For all of their beauty, roses do require regular spraying and maintenance to keep them pest and disease free. Good watering, feeding, pruning and air circulation will help to keep roses healthy.

• Aphids are small sucking insects that appear on new growth. Hose off, squash with fingers or spray with Mavrik
• Rose scale are sucking insects that look like fine white flakes stuck to the stem. Control with Enspray99 Oil mixed with an insecticide
• Mites are minute sucking insects found on the underside of leaves causing distortion, speckling and silvering of leaves. Spray with Mavrik or Enspray99
• Black spot appears as dark brown black spots in yellow rings on the leaf, usually in summer. Avoid wetting the foliage when watering. FreeFlo Copper can be sprayed as a protectant
• Powdery mildew appears as a white floury powder on the leaf surface. Improve air circulation around the plant. Spray with Yates Fungus Fighter
• Rust appears as orange spots on the underside of the leaf and turn black. Spray with Fungus nFighter or FreeFlo Copper 
• Downy mildew is a disease sometimes confused with black spot as it appears the same. Downy mildew tends to attack roses in early spring while black spot attacks in late spring, summer. Spray with Yates Fungus Fighter 

Other Uses 

• Roses are wonderful cut flowers
• There is a range of patio roses available suitable for pots. If growing roses in containers they need to be regularly watered and fed. Use a slow release fertiliser.