Pruning roses and pruning or planting climbing roses. All information here

Discover the best tips

Pruning roses, pruning climbing roses and rose care tips from the grower.

Roses are strong plants and caring for them is easier than you think. With a little extra attention, they bloom profusely all season long. Follow the advice of our rose experts for the best results.

Pruning roses and pruning & caring for climbing roses in general

Good to know

A rose does not stand alone, but is part of the life in your garden.

  • Biodiversity in your garden is important. It contributes to natural protection against diseases.
  • Healthy, strong plants are less susceptible to diseases and insects.
  • Roses like clean beds. Immediately cut away diseased leaves and branches and throw them in the container (instead of on the compost heap).
  • Roses can suffer from a dry spring, but also from wet, cold, humid periods, especially in spring and summer.
Top 10 most common mistakes when planting and caring for roses

There are often the same reasons why a rose does not meet expectations. We have listed the top 10 of the most common mistakes for you so that it does not happen to you.

  1. Do not remove bare root roses from the plastic bag immediately upon receipt, but wait until you are ready to plant them. Otherwise you run the risk of the root drying out. Store the roses in the sealed bag in a cool place (for example on the floor of the storage room) so that they do not sprout.You can immediately remove potted roses from the box upon receipt. Give them a little water, they need this after the trip.
  2. Choose a good location and pay attention to sun and ventilation. Sun is essential for growth and flowering. Ventilation prevents diseases and fungi.
  3. Plant a bare root rose sufficiently deep. The inoculation point (the point at which the branch grows from the root) should be under the soil.
  4. It is a natural reaction to pour water into the planting hole before planting the bare root. However, don't do this! The root then does not adhere sufficiently. Fill the hole around the root with rich soil, press it firmly and finally pour water at the root.
  5. Keep the soil airy after planting. Roses like an airy earth that can breathe.
  6. Feed regularly. Growth and flowering takes a lot of energy, a little extra nutrition gives results.
  7. Water regularly, but not too much. A rose that has just been planted needs water to take root. Pay extra attention in a dry spring.Water directly at the root and not over the leaves. Moist leaves are extra sensitive to fungi.
  8. Cut away diseased leaves immediately so that the disease cannot spread. Do not leave leaves lying around the plant, but throw them directly into the container.
  9. Prune immediately after flowering, all year round. This concentrates the plant's energy on producing new flowers. Support with a helping hand of nutrition.
  10. Roses sensitive to frost. Therefore, protect roses in autumn and winter by covering the point where the branches emerge (the inoculation point) with soil and leaves. Wrap standard roses with bubble wrap. Remove the protection in the spring during the first pruning.
Help! Common problems with possible solutions

Problem: my roses don't produce flowers

Possible causes:

  • too little sun
  • too little nutrition
  • drought in spring
  • frost damage
  • not pruned

Try to improve the above. Some roses do not produce roses in the first year after planting, so take good care of the rose and wait patiently for what nature has in store for the second year. If the result is not forthcoming, consider having a soil analysis carried out by a specialized company.

 

My roses suffer from mold and disease

Possible causes:

  • insufficient ventilation
  • too much fluid

Always ensure sufficient ventilation and keep the area around the rose clean.

 

My roses are bothered by insects

Possible causes:

  • lack of biodiversity

Insects such as lice can be a nuisance, but are not life-threatening for a rose. Insects are of inestimable importance to your garden. We therefore advise you to look at natural solutions such as planting allium, geranium (cranesbill) or marigold. Spray lice off the leaves with the garden hose.

What to do in frost?

Roses are sensitive to frost and must therefore be protected. Is frost predicted? Then wait before planting so that the roots do not freeze. Have you already planted and is it going to freeze? Don't stress, cover the inoculation point of the rose under a generous layer of soil of at least 15 centimeters. Wipe away the soil again during spring pruning.

The rose calendar - activities per season

What do you do at what time of the year? We have created the overview for you.

Spring

  • March: spring pruning.
  • March to September: after spring pruning in March, give the roses their first feeding. This stimulates growth and flowering. You repeat this until September.
  • Mid May to early June: Check the roses for curled leaves. These are larvae of the rose sawfly. Cut away any leaves that are curling and throw the leaf in the container.

Roses in summer

  • Cut off spent flowers throughout the summer. This prevents the rose from producing hips and stimulates the growth of new flowers. Cut off the offshoot on which the flower grows at the next five-leaf.
  • Give the roses a little nourishment every time after flowering. You repeat this until the month of September.

Caring for roses in autumn

  • It is best to plant bare root roses in mid-October when the soil is still warm. The rose can then still root for the winter. If you plant later, protect the inoculation point by covering it with soil and leaves.
  • October is the best time to transplant roses.

Caring for roses in winter

  • Roses are sensitive to frost. Therefore, mound the roots of climbing and shrub roses at the inoculation point with soil and leaves if you have not already done this in the autumn. Remove these again in the spring when you start pruning.
  • Standard roses are extra sensitive because the inoculation point above the soil is very susceptible to frost in all weather conditions. Protect a standard rose with a bag filled with straw and remove it in the spring after frost.

Plant roses in the garden or picking garden

Planting a rose is simple, but it is of course important that you do it right. In this article we explain step-by-step how to plant roses. In the ground or in a decorative pot.

When is the best time to plant roses?

You can plant bare root roses from mid-October to April, depending on the temperature. The best time is autumn, before the first frost. The soil is then still relatively warm and as a result the roots may still be able to form some root hairs so that the plants are 'established' for the winter. The roses will then develop better in the spring than if you plant later. This way you may see results sooner in the first year. However, planting later in the year is just as possible. The range of varieties at the nursery is often more limited (varieties may already be sold out) and the rose may take a little longer to get going. Roses that you buy in a pot can be planted all year round without any problems, as long as it does not freeze.

Choosing the right location

Choosing the right spot is very important to achieve the desired result.There are a number of points that you should pay close attention to.

  1. Never plant a rose in the same place where a rose once stood. If you still want to do this, first dig out the soil thoroughly and replace it with good soil from another spot in the garden, supplemented with garden soil or rose fertilizer.
  2. The vast majority of roses need at least 4 hours of sun per day. Roses do not grow and bloom well in the shade. Therefore, always choose a sunny spot.
  3. Ventilation is important in preventing diseases and fungi. Therefore, choose a place where the wind blows through.
  4. Are you planting a climbing rose against a facade or fence? Then keep sufficient distance from the wall so that the rose does not end up dry under a roof. And remember that the soil around the home is often poor. Therefore, make sure you have enough garden or rose soil.
This is how you plant a bare root rose in your garden

Have you found a good spot? Then follow the steps below.

  1. Do not remove the roses from the packaging until you are ready to plant them, so that they do not dry out.
  2. Loosen the soil well with the spade and dig a sufficiently large hole. The hole should be wide enough that the root shoots are exposed and not folded in half. For depth, it is important that large side shoots at the top of the root (this is called the oculation point) grow approximately 5 cm below the ground.
  3. Dip the roots in the bucket or pour water over them so that they are thoroughly wet. So do not pour water into the planting hole.
  4. Hold the rose upright in the planting hole with one hand; the root at the bottom will probably be slightly crooked.With your other hand, add 3 to 4 handfuls of garden soil or rose soil.
    Fill the planting hole further with the soil that came out of the hole and press it firmly. The rose is sufficiently deep if the point where the side shoots emerge is approximately 5 cm below the soil. For the record: you do not add extra fertilizer or peat to the planting hole. We only do fattening later.
  5. Give the rose plenty of water and repeat this regularly in case of drought, except when it is freezing.
This is how you plant a potted rose in your garden

Have you found a good spot? Then follow the steps below.

  1. Make a large planting hole of at least 50x50 cm.
  2. Improve the soil by filling the hole with rose or garden soil, preferably organic. This way the soil around the roots stays fresh and maintains active soil life.
  3. Remove the rose from the plastic pot and place it in the planting hole with soil. Make sure that the root ball is not damaged. A handy way to prevent damage is to cut the pot open on both sides down to the bottom and carefully remove the rose and its root ball from the pot with both hands.
  4. Fill with soil and press it firmly.
  5. Give the rose plenty of water and repeat this regularly in case of drought, except when it is freezing.
Plant roses in a decorative pot

A rose in a large pot on a terrace can be very decorative. When choosing a decorative pot, pay particular attention to the depth of the pot. A rose stops growing when the roots reach the bottom. We recommend using a pot that is at least 45 centimeters deep. To prevent frost damage, line the inside of the pot with bubble wrap before putting the soil in. Follow the same steps for planting as when planting a bare root rose or potted rose. The use of good soil and nutrition is extra important.

How many roses do you plant per m2?

To get a beautiful, fully grown image, plant 4 roses per m2. Some rose varieties form such large bushes that 3 roses per m2 would also be fine.

How many climbing roses do I need to cover a fence or wall?

We recommend that you plant 2 to 4 climbing roses per linear meter. Usually after about three years you will have a beautiful, fully grown fence or wall.

When do you feed a rose?

We expect a lot from a rose. Nutrition gives the plant the push to grow and bloom. Give a rose the first feeding after the first pruning in the spring and continue to repeat this after each flowering until September. You can find good organic rose food in our webshop.

Pruning roses, all tips here 

Pruning climbing roses and ramblers

Follow these steps when pruning ramblers and climbing roses.

Pruning rose bushes

It is often complicated, but it is not difficult at all: pruning a rose. It is mainly a matter of daring and doing. You prune a rose to stimulate new flowering and to shape the plant nicely. Pruning and feeding is often the best way to give a rose that is not doing so well a boost.

 

What do you need for pruning roses 

Good material is everything. A good pair of pruning shears, gloves and a rake are your friends.

  • To avoid diseases and frayed cuts, it is important that you have good pruning shears that you only use for the roses. This is an investment that, if used properly, will last you a lifetime.If necessary, disinfect the scissors with alcohol.
  • If you have to prune a lot, special gloves are a great protection against thorns.
  • With a rake collect the branches and leaves you have cut and loosen the soil. Collect everything and put it straight into the green bin, so that diseases don't stand a chance.

 

When do you prune roses?

There are three periods for pruning roses: spring, summer and autumn pruning.
Below you can read what to do per season.

 

Pruning roses in spring mid-March

In the spring you prune a rose to rejuvenate the plant and to allow new shoots to emerge. It may sound a bit dramatic, but when pruning you make cuts. The plant is injured and vulnerable. That is why you only prune a rose when the frost has passed, which is usually mid-March.

You cut the rose as follows. Thin branches take away energy from the plant and do not grow well, so you cut them off completely. You do the same with dead wood and branches that grow through each other. Try to keep three nice sturdy branches. Cut this off at 10 to 15 centimeters above the ground. You will probably see small red eyes on the branches, these are the new shoots. Cut off a main branch above an eye that points outwards, then the branch will grow outwards nicely. Remember that you always cut a branch at an angle.

With spring pruning you immediately give the roses a helping hand on top of the root. We like to use organic rose fertilizer. First loosen the soil a little with a rake.

 

Pruning roses in the summer

Pruning makes it bloom. And that's why you always cut away the spent flowers. As you prune the branch lower, the rose will gain more strength. This is why you cut the branch under the armpit of the first side branch with five leaves.

Continuous flowering roses will continue to produce new flowers in this way until autumn. Extra nutrition helps the rose with this. You can therefore continue to provide a little nutrition after each flowering during the summer until September.

Sometimes you see long, thin shoots growing at the root of the rose. These wild shoots drain energy and will not produce flowers. Therefore, always cut them straight away.

Tip: do you think it is a shame to cut off flowers that have not yet fully bloomed and are you weighing with pain in your heart? Then place them in a vase indoors to enjoy them for a while. Cut the roses at different heights and combine different types. They bloom quite quickly but give a much more natural look than roses from the florist.

 

Pruning roses in autumn

Not everyone prunes before autumn. After working hard for a summer, we don't always feel like it anymore. The reason to do it is to restore structure, protect the rose from winter and to get more blooms in the spring.

To protect the rose bush from winter, cut it back to knee height, not lower. It is wise to cover the plant with about 15 centimeters of soil for extra protection.

Roses and diseases

Roses are strong, but like many other plants they can be susceptible to insects and mold.

Types of diseases and fungi

The most common fungal infections are mildew, black spot and rust. Mildew is the least harmful, although it does not look nice. Black spot and rust are harmful. These fungi weaken the plants by causing premature leaf drop.

Insects

Remember that insects are an important part of nature. And that roses can also suffer from remedies. In our opinion, diseases and insects are part of the problem and can often be resolved naturally.

Controlling insects and preventing diseases

Prevention is always better than cure. A lot is possible in a natural way. A healthy plant is less susceptible to diseases. Good nutrition and fertilization are therefore important. Water young plants regularly during the first 2 years during drought. Remember never to spray over the leaves, but directly at the root. And do not water the roses too late in the day so that the shrub dries up during the night and is therefore less susceptible to mold.

By creating more biodiversity in your garden you increase the natural protection against insects. For example, plants that are related to the onion help against aphids. Plant chives and garlic between the roses. Allium is also a beautiful combination. Other well-known classics are lavender and clematis for climbing roses.

Do not spray methylated spirits on the rose in case of lice. It is much better to maintain the natural balance. Lacewings and ladybirds eat a lot of aphids, but these predators will come to your roses when there is something to eat. A few aphids won't bother your rose, but if there are too many due to the lack of enemies, a garden hose is the way to solve this problem. Lice and a lot of cold water do not go together, you can easily spray the lice off the plant if you hold the top of the branch for a moment.

Leaf rollers are mainly active on rose bushes that are located near trees. They can completely disfigure a plant in a short time. The advice is to pluck off the curled leaves and dispose of them. The moment the presence of the leaf roller becomes visible, the damage has already been done and the damage cannot be reversed. If you are desperate, you can consider fighting the larvae that is in the curled leaves. There are numerous remedies available on the market to combat these infections. Ask for advice before purchasing.

 

After all the tips looking for roses?

Here are our collections with the most beautiful roses from the rose nursery: