Rose Time

5 Top Tips for Roses:

1. When to plant: Plant bare rooted roses in the cooler months: May to August. Potted roses can be planted all year round.
2. Where to plant: Roses are sun lovers and although they will cope with the few hours shade a day, they flourish and put on the best show in full sun. Soil needs to be well dug over, and then blend in Tui Compost, and SaturAid to enable the soil to retain moisture and distribute water to the roots to boost the roses from below the soil. Add a layer of Tui Pea Straw Mulch to keep the weeds at bay and to help the soil hold onto more moisture during summer.
3. Feeding: Roses are gross feeders and respond quickly to application of Tui Rose Food at planting time and then in summer and autumn. Sprinkle it around the drip line of new and existing plants and water into the soil.
4. Pruning: Winter pruning is best done in July or August, once the plants have become fully dormant. Pruning any earlier in milder climates can stimulate new growth which could be damaged by frosts.
5. Pest management: companion planting is brilliant way to deter pest from roses, plant any member of the onion family - garlic, chives, shallots, alliums in clumps in amongst rose beds. The bonus with chives and alliums is that they both flower which enhances the floral display.

Special Roses:

Mum in a Million - Bright pink, old fashioned looking, quartered bloom and packed with perfume, the dark green foliage sets off the blooms wonderfully. This rose is set to become a mainstay with rose lovers.

Ginger Kisses – A new rose this has the most intense, old fashioned style russet orange blooms. As the flowers age, they develop pink tones. This fruity-perfumed beauty is set to be a winner for 2013. See image below.

Pope John Paul II – this new, pure white hybrid tea rose will appear later in spring. With its strong upright and uncompromising habit it deserves to be mass planted. See image below.