Rose Bushes

Bare root roses need to be planted between November and March, while they’re dormant, whereas potted roses can be planted at any time of year. For both, pick a dry day when the ground isn’t waterlogged or frozen - there’s all the advice you need in our rose planting guide.

The best soil for roses is a well drained, fertile soil, ideally with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. If your soil is a bit dry, heavy or generally poor, you can improve it by mixing in plenty of compost or well rotted manure.

Roses flower best in full sun (six to eight hours of sunlight daily) but they’ll also be fine in partial shade (four to six hours daily).

Newly planted roses should be watered frequently for the first year, until they’ve established a good strong root system. Once they’re established, roses like a deep watering once a week (or more during hot, dry weather) to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.

Roses benefit from a feed in early spring as the new growth is starting, repeated after they’ve bloomed for the first time, then once more in mid summer. You can get a specialist rose food, but any balanced fertiliser is fine, and tomato food is good! Mulching with compost or manure once a year can help boost the soil’s nutrients too.

Deadhead your roses regularly to encourage the plant to produce more, removing them as soon as they’ve wilted or the petals start to drop. You should also prune established roses in late winter or early spring, removing any dead or diseased stems and cutting them back each year to encourage new growth. You’ll find all the advice you need in our complete rose pruning guide.

There’s a huge choice of roses that thrive in the UK climate, from petite patio roses to rambling climbers. They’re all fully hardy and able to withstand anything the British weather can throw at them! You can explore all the different types in our rose buyers’ guide.

Roses are a brilliant choice for containers - we’ve highlighted the best compact choices on our plant pages. Choose a large pot measuring at least 45cm wide and deep, and bear in mind that roses in pots will need more regular watering and feeding than those in the ground.

To help your roses prepare for cold weather, ease off on the watering and stop feeding them in late autumn. Put down a layer of well rotted manure as mulch around the base of the plants and prune established roses. Looking for inspiration? Check out our rose garden design ideas!