There will be nothing bare about these roses in a couple of months

This week I’ve been planting up some bare root roses, so I thought I would share with you a quick step by step guide as to how to do this. Any time between November and April is a good time to plant them, as this gives them enough time to establish before blooming over the Summer. However, if your ground is frozen or waterlogged, I would wait.
The first step is to select where you want your rose to go, and then you need to pick a rose that will suit those conditions. Roses do prefer at least 4 hours of sunshine, but there are some that are suited to more shaded areas. Most rose companies are great at telling you what Rose is suited to what set of conditions, so do take a look at their websites before buying. It’s also important to consider whether the rose has enough space as they don’t like having to compete with neighbouring plants, hedges or trees. David Austin recommends planting them 1m from other plants and 60 cm away from other roses and that’s the rule I’ve always followed. The great news is that Roses will grow in any soil type.

A quick how to guide

• You first need to give your roses a good drink. To do this, pop their roots in a bucket of water and leave them for a couple of hours. This is also a good excuse to have a cup of tea yourself.
• You should then lightly fork over the soil where you will be planting the rose to remove any weeds or stones and then dig a hole big enough to accommodate the rose’s bare roots. I usually opt for a hole 50cm wide and 50cm deep.

• Having done this, you should then lightly loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole and add some well-rotted manure or soil improver. I also add a sprinkling of bone meal.
• Once your roses have finished having their drink (and you have finished your cuppa) you are ready to plant them up. I also use this as an opportunity to give the roots a quick sprinkling with Mycorrhizal Fungi to help boost their root system and encourage the uptake of nutrients from the soil.
• You should place the rose in the centre of hole, with the bottom of the stems being around 5cm below the top of the hole, then fill up with soil.

• Once filled, lightly firm the soil and then give the rose another water.

Now all you have to do is sit back and watch them bloom. If March and May are quite dry then you should water your newly planted roses every two to three days.  Also,  and throughout June to September if its is very hot then I would water every day.

You’re my favourite

Each year I add to my Rose collection but I’ve detailed below my top three performing roses. 

Claire Austin – I have four of these, all of which are growing supported by Obelisks. I’ve found them to be very good climbers with a lovely scent. They start off as a tight pale lemon bud which gradually opens to a large, creamy white flowers. If you like white roses then this is a must have in your garden.

Desdemona – Another David Austin rose and most probably my absolute favourite. It’s a very strong repeat flowering rose which has a gorgeous white, pinkish rose with a wonderful scent.

Queen of Sweden – Injecting a gentle pink rose into my borders I have opted for this rather wonderful rose. It’s such a soft pink and once again has a wonderful scent.

I could go on but will leave it here with my top three but always room for me so do let me know what your absolute favourites are. Also, does anyone have experience of planting a Rose hedge – would love to hear from you.

With love and stay safe, Flowers and Lifestyle by Margot –

www.instagram.com/flowersandlifestylebymargot/http://www.flowersandlifestylebymargot.co.uk

Find out more about me – www.flowersandlifestylebymargot.co.uk

Click here to buy my flowers –https://www.flowersandlifestylebymargot.co.uk/buy-my-flowers