How to grow bush roses

How to choose bush roses

Variety

The choice of the type of rose must be made considering the space in which it will be planted and the effect you wish to achieve: there are roses with small flowers, such as Floribunda , or large flowers, such as Tea , roses that are beautiful even when they have faded, such as wild roses or Rugose , or ideal for hedges and borders, such as botanical roses, ancestors of modern hybrids.

Bush roses for the terrace and balcony

Among the many varieties of bush roses for the terrace , we recommend three, which are considered among the best known and easiest to grow:

• Floribunda Roses (or continuous flowering): they produce many flowers per branch, they are ideal for pots due to their compactness and long flowering;
• English roses (David Austin): compact, scented and very ornamental. They adapt very well to the vase;
• Baroness Rothschild, with large, highly scented pink flowers and a sturdy stem, also excellent for hedges;
• Gioia, one of the most famous in the world, hybridized in 1945 by Meilland, with splendid yellow flowers with pink shades and a variable scent;
• Scarlet Bonica, a brand new Meilland variety with a bright red colour and repeat flowering, resistant to diseases.

Bush roses for the garden

The most suitable shrub rose for the garden is the Nevada, which is white in color, tending to pink in warmer climates. Its branches are long and curved, and this plant is ideal for hedges and flowerbeds. The Ballerina rose is also well suited to the garden: its flowers are small, pink with a white center. The shrub has arching branches, and the advantage of this plant is that it requires no pruning : dry cleaning is sufficient. 'The Fairy' rose, also very suitable for the garden, features light pink flowers and blooms from June until the colder months arrive. Finally, the copper-orange 'Westerland' rose is fragrant, vigorous, semi-climbing (it reaches a height of 120-150 centimeters) and blooms from May to October.

Exposure and care

For all types of bush roses, exposure is not complicated. They require good sunlight (at least six hours a day) and ventilation to prevent fungus or mold. As for care, fertilization should be done during planting and then with manure at the resumption of the growing season . Pruning is recommended at the beginning of the growing season, when the first buds appear.

How to plant them

The ideal time to plant bush roses is autumn (if you live in a mild climate) or spring (if you're planting them in areas with harsh winters). Each bush should be planted 60-90 centimeters apart.

To plant bush roses, follow this method:

• Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot or root ball;
• Mix compost or well-rotted manure with soil;
• Insert the plant, making sure that the grafting point (swelling at the base of the stem) remains slightly above ground level.

Watering

Bush roses should be watered once or twice a week, with increased frequency during the summer. Care should be taken not to wet the leaves, to avoid the risk of fungal diseases.

Flowering

Bush roses bloom extensively, from May to October (depending on the variety), especially if they rebloom. Here's another tip: always remove faded flowers to encourage the next bloom.

Problems and remedies

Bush roses can be attacked by aphids, powdery mildew (white mold), and rust. A very effective natural product to protect roses and prevent these problems is nettle macerate. Another preventative measure is to always ensure good ventilation of the plant.

Read also:

• How to grow roses at home
• How to care for roses in pots and in the garden
• How to Grow Vintage Roses
• 10 plants to place near roses