Shrub Roses  

Typically robust, healthy and repeat flowering, shrub roses provide colour long after many other shrubs have finished. They come in a vast range of sizes and colours, and some can even grow to 2m in height. Shrub roses are perfect for growing in mixed borders, larger containers, and of course within a dedicated rose garden.  If you’re looking for beautiful scent, opt for a David Austin English rose variety  

 Climbing Roses   

The perfect plant to add height to any garden - grow climbing roses up walls, fences, pergolas or trellises. Popular rose varieties like Hybrid Tea, Bourbons and English roses all come as climbers. They produce much larger flowers than ramblers, and can bloom repeatedly throughout the season  

 Rambling Roses  

Ramblers are far more vigorous than climbers but bear one bloom of many small flowers, usually in June. They need plenty of space and grow quickly. They look lovely growing up trees or cascading down a wall  

 Patio Roses  

These roses are compact and thrive in lighter soils. Their small size means they’re also perfect for pots. They’re easy to look after and remain compact if pruned each spring   

 Ground Cover Roses  

This is another type of rose ideal for growing in containers. They also look lovely at the front of borders or on banks, in case your garden isn’t perfectly flat. They spread and trail easily, and if given the right growing conditions, ground cover roses can also deter weeds!  

 Each type of rose come in their own range of varieties, meaning there are hundreds (if not thousands!) of different roses you can choose to grow. You may be asking yourself, with all these various kinds, where do I even start? Which ones do I pick? Which ones will look the best in my garden?  

At the end of the day, it's all about your personal taste. To start, and to narrow down your options, think about:  

• What you want your roses to look like – bushy, showy, traditional, or dainty, many roses have different looks  
• What you want your roses to smell like. If roses have one thing, it’s strong fragrances. Fruity or musky, sweet or earthy, what scent you prefer is entirely down to you - pop into store to smell and admire our rose plants before committing to growing your own  
• What colour of rose would complement your other plants, garden furniture and garden accessories  

• In general, roses love the sun and rich, moist but well-drained soil. Think about the conditions of your garden (the type of soil, how sunny or shady it is) and choose a spot your chosen rose variety will thrive in. Make sure to read the information on your rose before buying to ensure you’re planting the right rose for your conditions  

• Whether you’re planting in the ground or in containers, ensure there’s plenty of sunlight. In fact, it’s recommended that your roses get a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight each day. However, there are some roses suited to shade too, so you can still grow roses even if your garden is north facing  

• When planting roses in the ground, avoid overcrowding with other plants. Planting close to other plants means more competition for moisture, nutrients and sunlight. For the best results, leave plenty of space between each plant – about 3 feet from other plants, and 2 feet from other roses  

• Also avoid planting roses in exposed, windy areas. Fierce winds can cause roses to grow at an angle or even die. Make sure the soil around the base of your rose is firmed in, and use stakes and poles to hold your roses straight if necessary  

Watering Roses  

When to water roses?  

• How often you water your roses depends on how much rainfall you get. For example, you’re unlikely to need to water in late autumn or winter, and you’ll probably need to water more in the summer, especially during heatwaves or in dry soil  

• Keep an eye on how much rain you’re getting in the spring to early summer, but in your rose’s first few years after planting, you should water it every few days until it’s established. Roses are deep-rooted plants, so once they’re established, they can usually survive on the natural moisture in the soil   

• For established roses, water them once a week, again depending on rainfall. As the flowers start blooming, keep an eye for any wilting petals. Petals can wilt in extreme heat, but they can also be a sign your rose needs more water. If this starts to happen, water immediately  

• Roses in containers need to be watered more often than those in the ground – sometimes every day in hot weather. Water enough so that the compost in your rose container isn't drying out  

• Make sure to water the soil around base of plant, not on the flower or foliage as this will damage the flowers and can lead to diseases   

How much water do roses need?   

As a guide, use the following amount every time you water each rose:  

• Shrub roses – 5 litres  

• Climbing roses – 10 litres  

• Rambling roses – 10 litres  

• Standard roses – 10 litres  

• Patio roses – 5 litres