How To Plan And Care For A Rose Garden So You Can Enjoy Blooms All Season Long

There's perhaps no flower that's inspired more poetry, art, and prose than a rose. From formal rose gardens surrounded by boxwood hedges to cottage gardens overflowing with roses, foxglove, and native flowers, these layered blooms are held up as the star of the garden. They're carefully pruned into formal arrangements and allowed to climb and cascade over charming trellises.

However, the idea of a rose garden is often thought of as an intimidating project. They have a reputation for being temperamental, and planning a rose garden seems like a significant endeavor. But these two experts have tips on how to successfully plan, plant, and care for a rose garden.

How To Plan A Rose Garden

"It comes down to style, sighting, and soil," explains Lee. "Style, what kind of rose garden are you envisioning? Formal parterres surrounded by boxwood hedges, rambling country fence lines that give way to countryside vista views, or container roses for patios and limited space gardens."

Choose A Site

Just as in real estate, planning a rose garden is all about location, location, location. You can control the types of roses you plant, how you care for them, and even the nutrients in the soil, but you can't control the climate and sun of the location you choose. 

"Roses require at least six hours of sun a day, preferably morning sun so as summer drags on they are protected from hot July and August rays and winds," says Lee. She adds that good airflow is also essential.

Make sure you have enough room to plant the rose garden that you are envisioning, whether that's a formal arrangement or a looser, more happenstance cottage garden.

Get The Soil Ready

"Success starts a few inches beneath the soil. Prepare your planting area, cultivate the soil and add any amendments needed, such as compost, to give the soil nutrients," says Lee. Your roses will thrive if the soil is already prepared when you plant them.

Think About Color

A core focus of planting a rose garden is, of course, the color. Typically, you don't want to throw colors in without a plan (though there's something to be said for an array of color!). Instead, you want to focus on an intentional palette.

Janney explains, "If you're creating a calming space, opt for cool-colored blooms and use three of the same variety. For a garden with energy and fun, choose a bright color or mix and match varieties."

Try just shades of pink and red or perhaps yellow and orange. Add in white for a palate cleanser.

Select The Right Types Of Roses

Once you've narrowed down the colors, the next step is to choose the types of roses that will grow well in your garden. Yet the options are near endless,

To narrow down your options, Janney suggests considering why you want roses in your garden. "If you love cutting blooms to bring indoors, choose a variety known for repeat, vigorous blooms. Looking to cover a fence, arch, or entranceway? Opt for climbing roses. For those who enjoy using all their senses in the garden and want to experience a range of scents, choose roses known for their delightful fragrance."

There are, of course, several popular varieties that you'll see in rose gardens over and over again and for good reason. These are a few perennial favorites:

• David Austin ‘The Generous Gardner’: "This is a climbing rose I love for its vigor and bloom fragrance. I find this to be an easy keeper so long as it it given it’s space and proper trellising," says Lee.
• Jackson and Perkins ‘Iceberg’: This white shrub roses produces fragrant, honey-scented blooms from late spring through. Lee says, "This is my favorite choice for parterres as it will rise just above the boxwood with blooms." 
• Lady Banks: This rambler is popular to grow along fences, and its abundant clusters of blooms are some of the first to bloom in the spring. "I have hedged these into boxes on fences where I need a screen and formality," adds Lee.
• Drift Roses: These are a popular beginner rose that produce blooms all season long. "These are also a great option for easy maintenance as they are less fussy about pruning and can be hedge clipped down to control growth and promote re-bloom," says Lee.
  

Add Other Garden Flowers

While roses can hold their own in a garden, it's often the accompanying blooms that make the space feel magical. Janney suggests pairing roses with catmint, salvia, foxglove, scabiosa, and coneflower. She says, "Any traditional cottage flower complements roses beautifully."

"Many gardeners also train clematis through their climbing roses, choosing a variety of clematis that blooms opposite their roses to ensure continuous blooms throughout the season," adds Janney.

Fill In With Beneficial Companion Plants

Beyond the flowers that will bring color, height, and texture to your rose garden, there are also companion plants that will help attract pollinators, beneficial insects, and even improve the soil quality.

"Some beneficial companion plants for rose gardens include chive, allium, herbs, and catmint. Some garden annuals will even act as a trap by drawing aphids away from the roses, such as zinnia and cosmos," says Lee.

Tips For Caring For Your Rose Garden

Regardless of which rose variety you choose, the best way to keep your garden producing beautiful blooms all season long is to take care of it. That means watering it adequately, deadheading, and pruning—even the most low maintenance of roses aren't exactly no maintenance.

Water

When it comes to water, Janney explains that roses need lots of water, but they do best with one big gulp weekly rather than small drinks daily. If there's a heat wave, however, you may want to increase the watering.

Fertilizer

Fertilize your roses regularly. "I prefer the granular Espoma Rose Tone, applied by cultivating in the soil at the base of the plant," says Lee. Water the rose after you apply the fertilizer.

Deadheading

The best way to keep repeat bloomers blooming is to deadhead blooms when they are past their prime. It's as simple as cutting or pinching off the bloom where it meets the steam. Lee adds that you should keep the plant clean by removing dead or dying leaves from the plant and around base. 

Pruning

Beyond the normal deadheading, your rose garden should also get a good pruning in early spring. Lee explains, "Slightly open the center of the roses for air circulation, and remove any dead or congested growth."

Keep Pests and Diseases Away

Roses' reputation as pest and disease prone isn't unwarranted. "If you live in an area with high humidity, it is crucial to select roses with a proven track record of high disease resistance."

Diseases like black spot and canker are quick to spread and thrive when there's less air flow, so giving roses some space is crucial. "Allow them some breathing space, and you will be rewarded with healthier plants and more abundant blooms," adds Janney.

Powdery mildew is another common complaint, and, while it typically doesn't cause long term harm, it can ruin your roses for a season. Make sure you water your roses at ground level to prevent powdery mildew from forming. If you see infected leaves, remove them.

To keep pests away, Lee says, " Garden pests such as Japanese beetle, aphid, and spider mites, can be controlled by applying insecticidal soap, or Neem oil. Adding beneficial nematodes to your soil can also help prevent disease and discourage pests."