Planting and Cultivation Tips
Planting
The ground should be well prepared before planting.
Dig a large hole and work well-rotted manure or other organic matter into it. The hole should be deep enough for the roots not to be restricted.
On receiving your rose the roots must be kept damp. If the ground is too frosty for planting keep the rose in a container of moist soil or sand until the ground has thawed.
On planting the union (where the shoots break from the roots) should be at ground level.
Feeding and Healthcare
Roses, particularly repeat flowering varieties, require feed throughout the growing season. A recognised rose fertiliser or bone meal should be applied in early spring and again in mid-summer. Applying feed will help your plants remain healthy and fight pests and disease, as these tend to target poor and weak plants.
It may be necessary to apply an occasional spray, this is best done at an early stage before problems arise, as this will help build up the plants immune system. An all in one spray, such as Roseclear, will tackle disease and aphids.
Pruning
In the first year plants, including climbers, should be pruned back to 6 inches to prevent the plant being 'leggy' later on. In subsequent years pruning should be done in February - March.
Remove any dead or weak growth, then cut down repeat flowering varieties by half, and summer flowering varieties by no more than a third. Climbers should have the previous years flowering growth cut down to 3 or 4 buds, ramblers should be left.
For repeat flowering varieties, old flower heads should be removed to encourage later blooms, by cutting back 2 or 3 buds below the flower.
Ordering and Delivery
Roses will be despatched from early November through to the end of February. The roses will have their roots protected and kept damp. Orders will be despatched in the order in which they were received, and will be dependent on favourable weather conditions.