As England's national flower, it’s no surprise that roses can be found in almost every garden around the UK. And yet, many garden owners don’t know how to plant roses correctly – we’re looking at you, David Beckham.
Despite their delicate appearance, roses are quite hardy plants, able to thrive in almost any type of soil and even in a shaded location, despite preferring a daily 4-hour exposure to the sun. But there are definitely some ground rules to planting roses and how to grow roses in general.
That’s why we asked our gardening experts for an easy-to-follow guide to rose planting so that you know what to do and what not to do next time you decide to plant a rose bush, including answers to David Beckham’s rose questions and struggles that we’ve all been witness to when the footballer’s shared his recent foray into gardening on his Instagram.
How to plant roses
‘Flowering rose shrubs are a perfect way to add colour, sweet fragrance and a romantic feel to your outdoor space,’ says Jamie Shipley, gardening expert and managing director of Hedges Direct.
But to keep it looking, smelling and feeling that way, you need to know how to care for it, how to prune your roses, but first and foremost, how to plant them.
What you’ll need
- Rose plant - either a bare root one like the 'Scented Double Red' Rose from Thompson & Morgan which is more affordable or one in a container like the Leonardo Da Vinci Rose from Gardening Express which can be planted all year round
- Garden fork like the New Garden Border Digging Fork at B&Q
- Spade like the Metal Square Digging Spade at B&Q
- Gardening gloves like the NickyPicky Gardening Gloves at Amazon
- Organic compost like the SupaGrow Organic Garden Compost at Wickes
- Fertiliser like the Miracle-Gro Rose & Shrub Concentrated Plant Food at Amazon
How to prepare the ground for roses
Before it even gets to the rose planting day, it’s best to prepare the ground for your roses days in advance. And while roses can be planted in almost any type of soil, there are some kinds that the plant can’t handle - poor, sandy soil or heavy clay soil.
‘Roses can be planted in almost any soil type but they will require good drainage and for it to be rich in organic matter,’ says Petar Ivanov, gardening expert at Fantastic Gardeners. ‘Because of that, if you have poor, sandy soil or heavy clay soil in your garden, you can mix some compost or other organic matter with it to improve it. Add five to 10 centimetres of organic material and mix thoroughly into the garden bed.’
Jamie continues, ‘When it comes to planting out your roses, fork the soil over to bring any rocks or other obstructions to the surface and remove them. Also make sure to remove any weeds that could steal nutrients or interfere with your rose’s root system from the area. Mix a well rotted organic compost and a fertiliser to your soil to add nutrients and improve water retention.’
How deep should roses be planted?
We’ve seen David Beckham’s struggle determining how deep to dig the hole for his roses, and he was right to question it as it's a big detail you need to get right when planting a rose.
‘Because these flowers have large root systems, they'll need to be planted deep, at about 30 to 45 centimetres deep,’ Petar recommends.
Jamie elaborates further, ‘The hole you plant your roses in should be at least as deep as your spade’s head - or around 40 centimetres deep. Use a fork to remove clumps and break up the soil at the base of the hole to allow the roots of the rose to penetrate deeper into the earth.’
If you’re planting a container-grown rose plant, once the hole is ready, take the rose out of the container following this method, ‘Make sure that you wear gardening gloves while removing the rose from its container and tap the side of the pot gently to ease the rose out without disturbing the root structure in the process,’ Petar advises.
FAQs
Where is the best place to plant roses?
Whether you’re planting one of the best roses for small gardens or a more expansive variety, most roses prefer having a little bit of sunshine for a few hours a day.
‘Roses need to receive direct sunlight to thrive, with a minimum of 4 hours per day for the best results,’ says Petar Ivanov, gardening expert at Fantastic Gardeners. ‘Despite that, roses can still grow well even when they're planted against a north wall, as long as they are in an airy and light location. Certain varieties of roses can do well in more shaded conditions, but it's always better to know the care needs of the rose variety you're buying.’
What is the best month to plant roses?
When you plant your rose will largely depend on whether you’ve purchased a container-grown plant or a bare-root one as Jamie Shipley, gardening expert and managing director of Hedges Direct, explains.
‘While pot-grown roses can be planted all year round, it is best to plant bare roots from late winter to early spring - preferably March. This will give your rose shrub time to establish before the growing season begins later in the spring. For both pot-grown and bare root roses just make sure the risk of any late winter frost is gone as the frozen ground can damage your newly planted rose shrub,’ he concludes.
And now you know everything you need to get rose planting!
