How To Grow Roses | Yates Australia

Home How-to-Grow Guides Flowers & Ornamentals

Rosa spp.

How to Grow Roses

It's no surprise that Roses are one of the world's favourite flowers. Their beautiful fragrance and stunning blooms are sure to bring delight to any gardener. Whether planted into pots, billowing over the fence, climbing over arches or lined along the driveway – there are different types of Roses to suit every spot in your garden.

Full Sun

Deep Water During Flowering Season

Fertile & Well-Drained Soil

Suitable for All Cimates

Types of Roses How to Grow Roses in a Garden How to Grow Roses in a Pot How to Grow Roses from Cuttings How to Grow Roses from Seeds Rose Growing Tips Common Problems of Roses

Types of Roses

• Hybrid Tea Roses
• Floribunda Roses
• Miniflora Roses
• Shrub Roses
• Standard Roses
• Weeping standards
• Climbing, rambling and pillar Roses
• Carpet Roses
• Old Garden and heritage Roses

 

See Types of Roses for more in-depth info.

How to Grow Roses in a Garden

Bare rooted Roses (Roses which are packed into plastic bags filled with sawdust) are available for planting in winter, whereas potted Roses can be planted at other times of the year.

Step 1

Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. If the soil is clay based, add gypsum and fork in well.

Step 2

Dig a hole around 30 cm wide and 30 cm deep and create a small mound of soil in the centre of the hole. It is essential that the hole is large enough for the roots to spread out naturally.

Step 3

Remove plant from pot or packaging, remove excess soil and prune off any damaged or broken roots. Then, carefully spread the roots evenly over the mound.

Step 4

Backfill hole with soil, ensuring the graft union (where the stem joins onto the rootstock) is 5 cm above the top of the soil. Adjust if necessary and firm the soil.

Step 5

Water in well and mulch with organic mulch, such as sugar cane or pea straw.

Step 6

Once shoots or leafy growth starts to appear, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.

Step 7

Cut flowers to enjoy inside the home and remove spent flowers – this will help promote more blooms.

Step 8

Prune Roses back by two-thirds in winter, removing dead branches and any stems growing inwards – an open, vase shape will help with light and air circulation.

How to Grow Roses in a Pot

You don't need a large space to have your very own Rose garden. Many Roses are perfectly suited to growing in pots, where they can be beautifully displayed on a veranda, courtyard or balcony. One of the many benefits of growing Roses in pots is that they can be moved into the spotlight while they're in full bloom. If you missed out on planting a bare rooted Rose during winter, many gorgeous Rose varieties are available in pots from garden centres during spring.

Step 1

Choose a pot that is at least 500 mm wide and deep (miniature Roses can grow in a smaller pot). Position the pot in full sun.

Step 2

Fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix. Remove and/or push soil to the side to create a planting hole. Use the excess soil to create a mound in the centre of the hole.

Step 3

Remove the Rose from its pot or packaging, remove excess soil and prune off any damaged or broken roots. Then, carefully spread the roots evenly over the mound.

Step 4

Backfill hole with potting mix, ensuring the graft union (where the stem joins onto the rootstock) is 5 cm above the top of the soil. Adjust if necessary, firm the soil and water well.

Step 5

Once shoots or leafy growth starts to appear, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.

Step 6

Cut flowers to enjoy inside the home and remove spent flowers – this will help promote more blooms.

Step 7

Prune Roses back by two-thirds in winter, removing dead branches and any stems growing inwards – an open, vase shape will help with light and air circulation.

Step 8

Roses have large root systems, so it's ideal to re-pot every couple of years into larger pots to prevent them becoming root-bound.

How to Grow Roses from Cuttings

Roses can be propagated and grown from cuttings. You can take softwood cuttings in late spring or semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer (wood is relatively firm but still fairly flexible). It may be a few or many years before they flower, so if you're patient and keen to try, here's how:

Step 1

Cut lengths between 25-30cm long, ensuring you make the cut just below a node (the bump on the stem, where leaves emerge). Remove flowers and lower leaves, leaving one leaf at the top of the cutting.

Step 2

Fill a pot or deep tray with propagating sand. Use a dowel or similar to poke planting holes in the mix.

Step 3

Dip the base of the cuttings into rooting hormone, like Yates Clonex Rooting Hormone Gel – Purple and insert into the preformed holes. Gently firm the sand around the stems.

Step 4

Water lightly and position in a warm brightly lit spot, out of direct sunlight. You can cover the pot or tray with a plastic bag – use sticks to prop it up to prevent it from being in contact with the stem and leaves.

Step 5

Water to keep the soil moist. Once they have rooted – perhaps in early spring – plant up Roses in individual pots filled with Yates Premium Potting Mix.

How to Grow Roses from Seeds

Growing Roses from seeds is more difficult than from cuttings. Seeds form in Rose hips – small berry-like structures which may appear after flowering, if pollination is successful. The seeds may not be true to type (the same as the mother plant), especially if the plant is grafted or a hybrid. Still, if you wish to try, here's how: 

Step 1

Remove Rose hips from bush plant when they turn red, orange or brown.

Step 2

Cut Rose hips open with a knife and remove the seeds. Clean the pulp from the seeds, wrap them in a moist paper towel and store in a plastic container. Place the container in the fridge – don't forget to mark what it is so it isn't accidentally thrown out – and leave for 2 months.

Step 3

Remove the seeds from the fridge and plant to a depth of 2.5 cm in a tray or pot filled with Yates Seed Raising Mix. Water gently and position in a warm bright spot.

Step 4

Water regularly over the next 4-6 weeks to help keep the soil moist. Seeds should sprout after 3-4 weeks. When seedlings are 8-10 cm tall, transplant them into individual pots filled with Yates Premium Potting Mix and water in well.

Rose Growing Tips

How Much Sun Do Roses Need?

Plant Roses in a spot that receives 6-8 hours of full sun.

What Type of Soil Do Roses Need?

Roses love rich, well-draining soils. Prior to planting, enrich the soil with plenty of organic matter, like Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.

What Soil pH Do Roses Need?

Roses prefer a mostly very slightly acidic soil pH (around 6.5), check the soil pH using a kit or a pH probe. If the soil pH is lower than 6 apply garden lime. If the soil pH is higher than 7 apply Yates Soil Acidifier Liquid Sulfur (see The Importance of Soil pH).

What is the Best Fertiliser for Roses?

Once new growth appears in early spring, feed potted plants weekly throughout the growing season with a complete fertiliser like Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food. It's high in potassium to encourage flowering.

For garden-grown Roses feed every 6 weeks with Yates Thrive Natural for Roses & Flowers Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food.

How Much Water Do Roses Need?

Roses are moderately drought tolerant but look their best when watered regularly, especially during periods of hot weather. Water when the soil starts to dry out slightly, and water deeply.

To help keep the soil moist use an organic mulch, such as sugarcane or lucerne. Apply 5-8 cm deep, keeping away from the base of the trunk.

If you find the soil doesn't absorb or hold onto water very well, apply a soil wetter such as Yates Waterwise Soil Wetter Concentrate as the soil may be water repellent.

Pinch-Pruning & Pruning Roses During Growing & Flowering Season

Remove spent flowers regularly to help encourage more blooms. In summer, lightly prune Roses to encourage a second flush of blooms in autumn. Trim off around one-third of the overall growth and feed well with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.

Pruning Roses in Winter

Prune Roses in the depths of winter cutting them back to around knee height. After pruning, spray with Yates Lime Sulphur to help clean up common pests and diseases of Roses and give them a fresh start to the new season.

What Time of Year Should I Plant a Rose?

Plant bare-rooted Roses in winter, and potted roses at other times of the year. Spring and autumn are the best time of year for planting potted Roses. Avoid planting in the peak heat of summer when plants are likely to stress.

When is the Best Time to Transplant a Rose?

The best time of year to transplant a Rose is in winter. Dig as much of the root-ball out as possible and keep the existing soil with it. Move the plant to the new position at the time of transplanting.

Where Can I Buy Roses From?

You can buy potted Rose plants from the nursery almost all year round, except for winter, when they're sold as bare-rooted Roses. Bare-rooted Roses can also be bought online, direct from the growers and breeders – browse and order through their catalogues in late autumn or early winter. And if you have family or friends who grow Roses, see How to Grow Roses from Cuttings & Seeds.

Tips for Buying & Planting Bare-Rooted Roses

When buying bare-rooted Roses, check that the stems, which may be bright green or reddish brown in colour, are smooth and free from wrinkling.

Prior to planting bare-rooted Roses, soak the roots in a bucket of water to hydrate them and remove any soil. 

Don't buy Rose plants until you are ready to plant.

Should I Mulch Around the Base of Roses?

Mulch is great for Roses - it keeps their roots cool, maintains soil moisture, and breaks down and adds to the organic matter in the soil. Maintain a layer of organic mulch, such as sugarcane, at the base of the plant to help conserve moisture keeping the mulch a few centimetres away from the stem.

What Should I Do With Spent/Old Roses Flowers?

Remove spent flowers from Roses regularly to keep the bush tidy and promote more flowers.

What is the Best Fertiliser for Roses?

For established plants, dress the soil every season (except winter) with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.

Should I Cut Off Rose Fruit/Hips?

Remove Rose hips (fruits) from the plant as they drain energy from the plant and inhibit the growth of more flowers.

Common Problems of Roses

How to Get Rid of Common Pests & Diseases of Roses

Spray early in the season with Yates Rose Gun Black Spot & Insect Killer or Yates Rose Shield Concentrate. These products contain a systemic fungicide that can help protect your Roses from diseases Rose Black Spot, Powdery Mildew and Rust; and pests including Aphids, Caterpillars, Thrips, Two-Spotted Mite, and Whitefly.

Common Pests of Roses

Roses are susceptible to a range of different pests, including sap-sucking pests such as Aphids, Thrips, Mealybugs, and Scales; chewing pests such as Caterpillars, Sawfly Larvae, Snails and Slugs, and Borers; and large pests such as Possums, Birds, Rats and Mice.

How to Prevent Common Rose Pests

To help prevent Rose pests keep plants well watered and fed, and control weeds.

Why Are My Rose Leaves & Stems Curling & Twisted?

Causes of Rose leaves and stems curling includes sap-sucking pests, herbicide-spray drift, and drought.

Why Are There Bumps & Lumps on My Rose Stems & Branches?

Squishable bumps and lumps on Rose stems and branches are usually Scale - these are insect pests that suck out plant juices and harm plant health and growth.

Why is the Main Trunk/Stem of My Rose Covered in a White Snow?

Roses are prone to White Louse Scale which looks a bit like the stems and trunk are covered in snow. This is best treated in winter with Yates Lime Sulfur.

How to Get Rid of Scale on Roses

During the growing season spray plants with Yates PestOil, and during the dormant stage (winter) spray with Yates Lime Sulfur.

Why Are There Holes in My Roses Leaves?

There are various leaf-eating pests that cause holes in Rose leaves including Caterpillars, Sawfly Larvae (Rose-slug), and Snails and Slugs.

Why Are There Holes in My Rose Trunk?

Borers are insect pests that cause holes in the trunks of plants.

How to Protect Roses from Birds

You can try bird-predator-statues (e.g. owls) and shiny objects (e.g. hanging CDs), but if these measure fail, netting will be a sure-fire way to stop birds destroying your plants.

Common Diseases of Roses

Common diseases of Roses include Rose Black Spot, Sooty Mould, Rust, Powdery Mildew, Downy Mildew, Grey Mould, Rose Canker (Rose Dieback), Root Rot, viruses such as Rose Mosaic Virus.

How to Prevent Rose Diseases

To reduce the risk of fungal infection, water around the base of the plant rather than over the foliage, water only in the morning, and treat at the first sign of the disease.

Prune and remove any disease-affected leaves from the plant and on the ground and place into the rubbish bin.

Why Are There Black Spots on My Roses Leaves?

Roses are highly susceptible to the fungal disease Rose Black Spot which causes black spots to form on the foliage, and, if not treated can spread and cause leaves to die.

Why Are My Rose Leaves, Stems & Flowers Covered in a White Powder?

Powdery Mildew is a white and powdery fungal disease that covers the surface of plant leaves, stems and flowers. Roses are susceptible to this diseases.

Why Are My Rose Leaves Covered in Orange Powdery/Dusty Spots?

Rust is an orange and powdery/dusty fungal disease of plants that is usually found on the underside of leaves.

Why is the Bark of My Rose Falling Off?

There are few reasons why the bark (stem epidermis) is falling off including poor drainage, Root Rot diseases, and White Louse Scale.

Why Are There Black Spots on My Leaf with a Fluffy Growth on the Underside of the Leaf?

Downy Mildew looks similar to the signs and symptoms of Rose Black Spot, however, the spots are less pronounced, and there is a grey fluffy growth on the underside of the leaf opposite to the spotting on the upper side.

To treat, spray with Yates Liquid Copper and see How to Prevent Rose Diseases.

Why Are There Pink Spots on My Rose Petals?

This is usually caused by the fungal disease Grey Mould (Botrytis cinerea) and occurs mostly in humid and wet weather. See How to Prevent Rose Diseases.

Why Are My Pruned Rose Stems & Branches Dying Back?

Rose Canker or Rose Dieback is a fungal disease that is spread by pruning, rain and water splash.

When pruning, always use sharp and clean secateurs. If you are pruning a plant known to have Rose Canker, disinfect the secateurs in between each cut with a 9:1 mixture of water (9 parts) and bleach (1 part).

Keep plants well fed to help promote disease resistance and resiliency.

Can I Get Rid of Rose Viral Diseases?

There is no chemical control for the treatment of viral diseases in Roses, including Rose Mosaic Virus.

Why Isn't My Rose Flowering?

If the plant is generally healthy and there are no signs of pests and diseases, then the cause for lack of flowers might include lack of sun, lack of nutrients, high nitrogen and low potassium fertiliser.

Make sure the plant is getting at least 5 hours of direct sun and is well fed. Feed with a fertiliser suitable for flowering plants such as Yates Thrive Natural for Roses & Flower Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food.

Why Are My Rose Leaves Going Yellow?

Rose leaves naturally go yellow in winter. However, for other times of the year yellowing Rose leaves may be an indication of a pest, disease, virus, or environmental condition.

Look for other signs and symptoms of pests, and make sure the plant is well cared for.

Other Rose Articles You Might Like

View All How-to-Grow Guides

Types of Roses Common Problems of Roses

Types of Roses

Garden Advice & Inspiration

How to Prune Roses Common Problems of Roses

How to Prune Roses

Garden Advice & Inspiration

Winter Rose Care Common Problems of Roses

Winter Rose Care

Garden Advice & Inspiration

Spring Rose Care Common Problems of Roses

Spring Rose Care

Garden Advice & Inspiration

Summer Rose Care Common Problems of Roses

Summer Rose Care

Garden Advice & Inspiration

Common Problems of Roses Common Problems of Roses

Common Problems of Roses

Garden Advice & Inspiration Previous Next

We Also Plant Seeds in the Heads of Gardeners

Join the Yates Garden Community to receive personalised monthly emails, and hear about exclusive promotions and giveaways.

Join Now Stay Connected Facebook Instagram YouTube