ROSE GROWING

A Guide to Rose Planting, Pruning, Care, and Disease Management

Growing roses is a richly rewarding pursuit. Their blooms elevate any garden, and with the right care and attention you’ll enjoy vibrant, healthy shrubs year after year.

This guide walks you through selecting and planting roses, mastering pruning techniques, daily care routines, and keeping diseases at bay.

Selecting and Planting Roses

Now is the time to be planting roses.

Choosing the right rose variety and planting location sets the stage for success. Deciding on the rose type is the first step.

1. Hybrid teas for classic single blooms
2. Floribundas for clustered flowers
3. Shrub roses for easy maintenance
4. Climbing roses for vertical accents

Roses need at least six hours of full sun daily. Morning sun dries dew, reducing fungal risk.

• Prepare the soil

• Test pH (ideal range 6.0–6.5)
• Amend with compost or well-rotted manure
• Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot

It’s time to plant.

1. Dig a hole twice as wide and deep as the root ball
2. Mix native soil with compost at a 1:1 ratio
3. Place the graft union (if present) just above soil level
4. Backfill, firm gently, and water deeply

Pruning Roses

It’s time to prune.

Pruning encourages strong structure, air circulation, and prolific flowering.

• When to prune
• Late winter to early spring, just as buds swell
• Remove any dead or diseased wood anytime
• Pruning objectives
• Open the center for air flow
• Remove crossing canes.
• Cut back about one-third of last season’s growth
• How to prune

1. Cut at a 45° angle, 5 mm above an outward-facing bud
2. Make clean cuts; discard removed wood to prevent disease spread
3. Shape the shrub into a vase or goblet form

General Plant Care

Consistent maintenance keeps roses vigorous and flowering.

• Watering
• Deep soak once or twice weekly
• Water at the base, not from above
• Fertilizing schedule

Season	Fertilizer Type	Application Rate
Early spring	Balanced NPK 10-10-10	According to label
Midseason bloom	Rose specialty mix	Half the spring dose
Late summer	Low‐nitrogen feed	Single application

• Mulching
  Spread a 5–8 cm layer of organic mulch around the base, keeping it a few centimetres away from the stems.
• Winter protection

• Mound soil or compost around the base

Disease Prevention and Management

 

 

 

 

Roses are prone to several fungal and bacterial diseases. Early detection and treatment are key.

Disease	Symptoms	Causes	Control Measures
Black spot	Circular black lesions on leaves	High humidity, poor air flow	Remove affected leaves; apply fungicide
Powdery mildew	White, powdery coating on stems/leaves	Dry days followed by damp nights	Increase air flow; sulfur spray
Rust	Orange pustules on leaf undersides	Overhead watering	Water at soil level;
Botrytis blight	Gray mold on buds and flowers	Cool, wet conditions	Prune poor-air-flow areas; clean debris

Key tips for disease management

• Sanitize tools between plants
• Remove and destroy fallen leaves
• Space plants to promote airflow
• Consider resistant varieties like ‘Knock Out’ or ‘English Cottage’ types