Planting Advice
Before you start, with the plant still in its pot water well or dunk in a bucket of water until air bubbles stop rising.
Dig a hole twice the height and width of the pot.
Mix into the bottom of the hole organic matter, such as well rotted manure or planting compost, along with rose food.
Add a measure of Mycorrhizal Fungi – following manufacturers guidelines. Mix planting compost and a measure of rose food into the soil removed from the planting hole.
Remove the rose from its pot.
Place the rose in the hole, ensure the soil level in the pot is level with the surrounding soil. Replace the soil, firming as you go.
Water in well.
For planting in a patio pot choose a large pot, at least 35cm in diameter with drainage holes.
Add a layer of shingle or crocks to the bottom of the pot for further drainage.
Follow the instructions above using a loam-based compost such as John Innes No3.
Leave at least 3cm between the soil level and the top of the pot to make watering easier.
Care Advice
Keep well-watered until established. Keep roses in patio pots well-watered, especially through the summer.
Feed with a rose fertiliser in spring and summer. We also recommend Uncle Tom's® Rose Tonic as as a liquied feed throughout the growing season.
Remove faded flowers to encourage repeat flowering.
Prune in March or before new growth starts. Reduce all growth by a third to a half.
Remove any dead, diseased, spindly or badly crossing stems, cutting back to the base of the plant.
Cut stems for bringing into the home as a bud shows colour and the petals start to unfurl its outer petals, trim at the desired stem length, just above a leaf. Remove all the leaves apart from top one or two, stand the stems in fresh water.