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Roses are one of the most loved flowers of all time, they are a symbol of romance & friendship and are one of the oldest cultivated flowers. How to grow roses in Australia depends on many different factors such as the species and climate. Growing roses in the varied Australian climate can be daunting but the reward you reap when harvesting this flower can far outweigh the challenges you might face
Roses are beautifully versatile and can be grown in many different styles and cultivars, making it possible to have one for every occasion. Here are just a few of the most popular varieties:
When learning how to grow roses in Australia there are a number of factors to take into consideration when creating the perfect rose growing environment. It’s important to know the answers to the following questions if you want your roses to thrive.
Choosing where to position your roses is an essential step in learning how to grow roses in Australia. Roses love the sun and for them to grow and prosper they’ll ideally require around 6 hours of sunlight per day, so it’s best to plant them in a spot where they’ll absorb the morning sun.
Roses don’t care much for other plants so it’s best to have them in their own bed and ensure you keep any weeds under control. If the area tends to be exposed to the elements, you might want to consider a windbreak such as a solid fence or hedge.
An important step to how you grow roses in Australia is choosing the right soil. Roses like soil that offers suitable drainage, is nutrient-rich and slightly acidic – with a pH around 6.5-7. If you need to improve your soil before planting it’s advisable to add organic based fertiliser or use organic matter, such as cow manure or compost, before planting.
When considering how to grow roses, you must understand their watering requirements. Roses require more watering than most garden plants throughout the year. The first year of a roses life is when it will be most porous and require a dedicated watering plan, this will help the young roots to establish and grow.
A tested way to water new roses is with drip irrigation, as it concentrates the water at the root, where it’s required the most. It’s also important to keep a thick layer of organic mulch to keep the moisture in and protect the root of the plant.
Roses thrive off a constant supply of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. A high-quality organically based fish fertiliser, such as Charlie Carp in either a liquid or pellet form is perfect to provide these nutrients to the plant.
Charlie Carp is a perfect fit for roses as it provides a defence against pests and diseases. When sprayed over the foliage it helps prevent black spot, although you need to treat the black spot first. It’s important to remember not to fertilise the rose plant immediately after planting, wait until the flowers have started to show colour.
Fertilising should be done three times a year in spring, the start of summer and at the beginning of autumn. Feeding any later than this will encourage new growth that will only become damaged in winter. If you can master fertilising your roses you’ll be an expert on how to grow roses in Australia.
Pruning is imperative when it comes to roses, this allows them to get rid of all the old, dead elements and will reinvigorate them, so they can produce a new batch of blooms. Various types will require additional pruning at different times of the year, but all roses should be pruned in winter (June/July or early August).
Please note, rose types that only bloom in spring should only be pruned after flowering and not during the winter.
You should remove the dead & unproductive wood back to reveal the younger smoother bark. Minimise branch crowding by removing crossed over branches and cut out any twiggy growth.
Climbing roses will require further attention as they not only need to be pruned but also trained. Cut down the side shoots to around 10cm however, do not prune the main stems and train the main shoots to grow horizontal (this will allow for more flowering). If you are growing roses on pillars or arches the climbing roses will need to be trained in a spiral fashion.
The best way to avoid pests and disease is to start with a disease-resistant variety of rose plant which is kept well hydrated and fertilised with organic based fertiliser.
It’s also a good practice to ensure the plants have good air circulation. Make sure to remove any diseased foliage on a regular basis and if you should see any fungal infections spray every two weeks with a fungicide.
The main common garden pest that damages roses are aphids. Aphids can be controlled in a variety of ways for example by hosing your plants regularly or introducing ladybugs.
Roses are certainly not the easiest of plants to tend to as they do require attention throughout the year but with the proper care and maintenance, they promise to deliver beautiful blooms year after year.
The famous roses of Flemington Racecourse have been grown using Charlie Carp for over 10 years now, so it’s safe to say we know a thing or two about growing roses in Australia. If you’d like to learn more about roses and how best to fertilise, get in touch with our friendly team today.
