Rose Bushes

Roses have an incredibly long history. In fact, fossil evidence suggests that they are over 35 million years old. Wild ones were used to produce scented oils, rosewater and other fragrances for a long time before they were cultivated. There is evidence to suggest that they were in use in Iraq from as early as 2000 BC. They feature in many different legends in many different societies. For example, according to Arabic legend roses used to be white until a nightingale met one and fell in love with it. Before this point nightingales were not known for their beautiful song but upon seeing the flower he was inspired to sing for the first time. He loved it so much that he pressed himself to it and the thorns pierced his heart turning the flower red forever. In Greek mythology the rose was said to have been created by Aphrodite the Goddess of love using her tears and the blood of her lover Adonis. Roses were incredibly popular in Roman society. They actually ended up being synonymous with the worst excesses of the Roman Empire. Emperors used to fill swimming baths and fountains with rosewater and would sit on a carpet of petals for their feasts and orgies. They would drop petals in wine to try to stave off drunkenness and high society women would also use the petals in a poultice to try to reduce wrinkles. Victorious armies would be showered in petals by civilians on their return. Romans were so obsessed with them that peasants were forced to grow them for their leaders rather than food.

What are the advantages and benefits of growing roses?

Roses are incredibly popular. They constantly top favourite flower lists and it is easy to see why. With such a huge range of gorgeous colours and styles and with many having an excellent fragrance there is sure to be one to suit every garden. These highly versatile plants can be grown in pots, borders, over arches, pergolas or used as ground cover and are sure to brighten up any area. If cared for correctly they are very easy to grow and they will live for a very long time. Their excellent ornamental value makes them a brilliant flower for cutting and bringing inside to enjoy the blooms. They are often hardy and quite a lot of the varieties have good disease resistance. The fruit that they often produce is also beneficial. They produce rose hips which is the fruit left over after they drop their petals. They are packed with vitamin C and can be used to brew in tea and can also be used to make jam and other preserves.

What to look for when buying a rose bush

The first thing to think about when buying one is what type you want. There are such a large variety to choose from and each of them have different requirements and growing habits so it is important to choose one that works best in your garden. On the whole flower form, colour and scent is a matter of personal taste. However, there are a few things to consider. For example, do you want to buy a repeat flowering one? If so a climber might be a better choice than a rambler as they tend to flower repeatedly whereas a rambler tends to flower impressively but only does it once in June. Finally you need to consider how you want to grow it. For example, if you want a container grown rose a patio or miniature one would be the best choice over one with a bigger bushier habit.

Are there different types of rose bush?

There are many different types of roses. In fact there are thought to be over 30,000 varieties worldwide with over 150 species. Some are obviously more popular than others and more likely to be cultivated. Some never make it to the popular market and others are often replaced with newer varieties. However, there is still an overwhelming amount of choice and plenty of styles to choose from. The ones that are most commonly grown in the UK are Hybrid Tea, Floribunda, Miniatures and Dwarfs.

How easy is it to grow rose bushes?

Roses are one of the most popular flowers to grow in Britain. They can live for up to 20 years with proper care and maintenance. However, there are a few pitfalls to avoid when trying to grow them. Roses do require watering when there has been a few days of dry weather especially newly planted roses and those growing in sandy soil. They also require frequent hoeing and benefit from having a layer of mulch on the soil surface. For more information about how to successfully grow your rose bush please click here.

Does it matter where I place my rose bush?

It is important to choose the correct position for your rose bush. They need to be placed in a sunny spot if they are to thrive. They also need to be placed in a spot which is sheltered from cold winds and placed in soil which has good drainage. They will not grow in waterlogged soil. If you have decided to grow a climbing variety you will also need to consider how much space it needs to have to grow to its eventual height. For more information about how to plant and maintain a climbing rose please click here.

Are there any disadvantages to growing rose bushes?

Roses are susceptible to a few pests and diseases but these issues can be fixed with proper care and attention. They may struggle to establish if they are planted poorly, given little in the way of aftercare or planted where a rose has been planted before. They may suffer from a sickness known as replant disease. Replant disease occurs when a plant is replaced with the same type in the same position. For most plants this doesn’t cause an issue but for some, including roses, the new plant will fail to thrive or grow well. This doesn’t just occur in areas where the previous plant was well established. The roots of the previous plant only need to have been in the soil for a few months for this to occur. In severe cases replant disease can cause the new plant to die and the fine roots might turn rotten or grow poorly. However, this issue can be fixed fairly easily by lifting the plant, shaking off all the soil and replanting it in a different site. The plant often recovers if these steps are taken. One other problem that these plants face is rose black spot. This is the most serious rose disease. It is caused by the fungus Diplocarpon rosae which infects the leaves and greatly reduces plant vigour. Large purple or black patches appear on the leaves in spring and they turn yellow and drop. Small black lesions might also appear on young stems. Plants that are badly affected might lose all their leaves. To fix this issue make sure to collect and destroy any of the fallen leaves in autumn and prune out the lesions in spring. This will help to delay the onset of the disease. Use fungicides such as tebuconazole (Bayer Fungus Fighter Concentrate), tebuconazole with trifloxystrobin (Bayer Fungus Fighter Plus), and triticonazole (Scotts Fungus Clear Ultra and Scotts Fungus Clear Ultra Gun) to help keep in control of the issue.