Next steps to help your newly planted rose settle fast and flower brilliantly
Welcome to one of the finest months of the year to plant a rose. The soil is warming up nicely, the worst of winter is behind us and your new rose will have the entire growing season ahead to establish roots.
Container-grown roses, which is one of the ways we supply ours at YouGarden, can go in the ground right now, today!
Whether you’re after a gloriously fragrant, flower-smothered Floribunda for a sunny border, a romantic climbing rose to drape itself across an arch or fence, a stately standard rose to bring height and elegance to the patio, or a compact patio rose for a pot by the door, we have something that will make your heart sing.
But planting is only the beginning! Do these five things after you put your rose in the ground and you’ll set it up for a truly sensational season.
1. Water It In Properly
Give your newly planted rose a thorough soak immediately after planting, and keep on watering regularly while it settles in. Container roses in pots may need watering daily once the weather warms up. Always water at the base of the plant rather than over the foliage, which can encourage disease.
2. Feed It At The Right Time
April is an important month to feed roses. Apply a specialist rose fertiliser, such as our own Ultimate Rose ‘Bloom-Booster’ Complete Fertiliser, around the base of the plant now, before flowering begins. If your rose is growing in a container, it will need feeding more frequently than one planted in open ground, as nutrients wash through the compost quickly.
3. Mulch The Soil
Once you’ve fed, follow up with a generous layer of well-rotted manure or garden compost spread around the base of the plant. Around 5cm deep does the job nicely. Keep it clear of the stems themselves. This simple step locks in moisture, improves the soil structure and keeps weeds at bay just as spring growth really starts to motor.
4. Support And Train If Needed
Standard roses should be staked immediately at planting – check that ties are secure but not so tight they’ll rub or bite into the stem as it grows. Climbing and rambling roses will benefit from being tied in to their support framework this month, helping to shape the plant and encouraging the best possible flowering display later in the season.
5. Watch For Early Pests And Disease
Rose aphids can be active from as early as March right through to August. Make a habit of checking buds and shoot tips regularly from now on. Catch them early and a sharp blast from the hose is often all you need. Stay on top of it and you’ll avoid bigger problems later.
