Rose Growing Guide

Rambling roses trained along fences or perfectly pruned standard roses – whatever your bloom of choice may be, filling your piece of paradise with fragrant floral displays will bring joy on a daily basis. Roses are a great option to create structure - for example use standard roses as a divider for different areas of your backyard. Roses will last forever with a bit of care.

PREPARE

Choose a variety of rose based on the look you are trying to achieve – in pots for a burst of colour and scent, rambling along a fence, or upright standard roses. Scroll to the bottom of this guide for tips on choosing the right rose.

Like building a house a good foundation is the key to success in your garden. The better the soil, the better your plants will grow. If you are starting with an existing garden bed dig in organic matter like sheep pellets and Tui Compost to your soil.

Then you can add a layer of specially blended planting mix designed for what you are planting. Tui Rose & Shrub Mix is an ideal mix to use when planting roses. If planting in pots and containers, fill with Tui Rose & Shrub Mix.

PLANT

Choose a spot that gets sun - as a rule of thumb roses need at least five hours sun a day and prefer a spot that is sheltered from strong winds.

• Soak your rose in a bucket of Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic before planting and allow to drain. This will help prevent transplant shock.
• Dig a hole, approximately twice the depth and width of the root ball of your rose.
• Partly fill the hole with Tui Rose & Shrub Mix.
• Gently loosen the root ball of your rose and position the plant in the centre of the hole.
• Fill in with Tui Rose & Shrub Mix.
• Press soil gently around the base of the plant.
• Water your rose well.

Directions for planting in pots and containers:

• Soak your rose in a bucket of Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic before planting and allow to drain. This will help prevent transplant shock.
• Partly fill your container with Tui Rose & Shrub Mix.
• Gently loosen the root ball of your rose and position the plant in the container.
• Fill your container with Tui Rose & Shrub Mix up to 3cm from the top.
• Tap the container gently on the ground to settle the mix.
• Press soil gently around the base of the plant.
• Water your rose well.

NOURISH

Feed your plants and they will reward you. Plants use nutrients from the soil as they grow, so replenishing the nutrients ensures your roses grow to their full potential. Select a fertiliser specially blended for your plants like Tui Rose Food, which contains high levels of potassium to promote large, vibrant, healthy blooms and added iron to deepen colour. Feed roses planted in pots and containers with Tui Enrich Rose, Camellia, Azalea & Gardenia controlled release fertiliser.

Feed in spring and summer, when they are actively growing. Well watered, well nourished roses will have a better chance of keeping insect pests and diseases at bay.

PROTECT

The weather, weeds, pest insects and diseases can all impact on the success of your roses. Keep the area around your roses weed free. Protect your roses from the elements with layers of Tui Mulch & Feed, to help keep their roots moist.

Tui Tips:

• For best results, regularly apply sheep pellets to condition soil and feed plants.
• When planting, if there is a graft on your plant, ensure it is below or at the soil level.
• Planting garlic under roses helps keep aphids away.

Pruning: to help grow successful roses it is a good idea to give them an annual prune. Pruning your roses each year will keep them in tip top shape and improve flowering! Here's a guide to pruning roses. Click here for our rose pruning guide.

The Right Rose

Roses come in all shapes, colours and sizes – there are thousands of varieties available. Each season, new varieties appear, due to the demand for innovation, new colours and hardier plants. Choosing the right roses for your particular climate zone is essential as it should mean fewer pest and disease issues.

When selecting roses for the garden:

• Choose well branched healthy looking specimens.
• Avoid rose plants which have withered or damaged looking stems.
• Look for the high health symbol on the rose labels, this means the roses are free from virus and disease.

TIPS TO PICK THE PERFECT ROSE