All the roses sold by Garden Express are bud grafted roses. They are supplied as bare rooted plants when dormant during the winter months. The roots are washed free of soil prior to being packed into bags filled with wet, clean packing medium to keep the roots moist and the plant fresh during transit. Roses establish well in their first year and continue to flourish becoming more hardy as years go by.
We recommend ordering as early as possible as popular varieties often sell out prior to the end of the season. Although Rose orders are despatched from early June, due to seasonal factors and the large number of orders to be sent, despatch of all outstanding orders can take several weeks so we appreciate your patience.
PREPARE FOR YOUR ROSE PLANTING:
- Choose an open, sunny and well drained position.
- Prepare your rose bed 4 weeks prior to planting.
- A slightly acidic and medium texture soil is best.
- If your soil is not ideal, improve it by digging in lots of organic material.
- Spread out roots, place in the planting hole with the bud union approximately 5cm above the surface.
- Fill in with soil and gently firm it down.
- Water in well.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Bare rooted roses can be kept in the bag for several weeks if kept moist and in a cool spot. To keep bare rooted roses longer they should be "heeled-in". Completely cover with soil and keep watered.
- NEVER use general fertilisers at planting time, however slow release rose fertiliser tablets can be used at this time.
- NEVER let the roots of your roses dry out at any stage of planting.
HINTS:
- Roses need at least 5 hours of sun per day to produce a good quantity of flowers.
- Roses in shaded areas are more liable to attacks from fungus diseases.
- Movement of air around the bushes will help to reduce mildew and black spot but remember to protect from strong winds.
- Plant climbers and rambling roses 40cm from fence or wall.
Choose the type of rose that's right for you...
Whilst all roses are equally beautiful, there are so many types of roses to choose from, and each type suits a different purpose in your garden. Here we have provided some basic information on seven popular groups to help you make a more informed choice on which roses are right for your garden. Please take some time to read thes guide below, and there is more information on each page about the types of roses available.
Patio & Standard Roses
- Compact bush on 60cm (Patio) or 90cm (Standard) stock plant.
- Generally Floribunda types used, providing a ball of colour.
- Excellent pathway borders or centre piece plants.
- Ideal pot & tub roses for the patio or front door.
Miniature Balcony Roses
- These are miniature standard roses approximately 30cm tall.
- Have an abundance of petite blooms.
- Excellent for patios, balconies, apartments.
- Can be taken indoors occassionally as a table top feature.
- Perfect for those who love miniature roses and also love the form of a standard rose.
- Make an ideal gift, especially for someone with a small garden.
Climbing Roses
- Vigorous growing bushes with long trailing stems.
- Blooms of Hybrid Tea, Floribunda & Old fashioned varieties are available.
- Ideal for covering fences, pergolas or create a screen with a wall of colour.
- Versatile plants that can be trained to suityour imagination.
- Some rose varieties are available as both bush and climbing forms (eg Blue Moon, Peace and Iceberg).
Weeping Roses
- Created by budding climbing roses (ramblers in particular) or ground cover roses onto a stem 1.8m tall.
- Ideal centre piece in a formal garden.
- Typically 2-3 years to full mature size.
David Austin Roses (English Roses)
- Bred by David Austin from crosses of Old Roses and Modern Hybrid Teas and Floribundas.
- Medium to large bushes sporting both single & multiple blooms.
- Fascinating blooms with the character & fragrance of old world charm.
- Modern attributes including repeat flowering & disease resistance.
- Beautiful plants, whether planted singly or massed together.
Ground Cover Roses
- Short compact bushes with low growing habits.
- Clusters of blooms, usually open single or semi double flowers.
- Ideal landscaping plants for borders, driveways or mass display.
- Easy to grow plants resistant to most problems.
Hybrid Tea Roses
- Large tall bushes producing single blooms on long stems.
- Classic full flowered blooms, usually fragrant.
- Ideal cut flower roses with goblet shaped buds.
- Excellent showpiece roses.
Floribunda Roses
- Medium bushes producing clusters of flowers on short stems.
- Multiple blooms opening continuously from small buds.
- Ideal plants to create hedges or borders.
- Fantastic potted colour with repeat
flowering over a long period.
Smooth Touch® Roses
- Smooth Touch 'thornless' roses have been bred to minimise the number of thorns.
- Varieties are 95-100% thorn free and therefore much safer in the garden, especially for children and elderly gardeners.
- Available in a range of colours and delightful perfumes.
Twin Colour Roses
- Not a 'type' of rose like those above but rather one where two different rose varieties with complementary colours are grafted onto the same root stock.
- Typically varieties with similar growth habits are used so growth of each is balanced.
- Technique can be used on both bush roses and standards, including patio standards.