What I’ve Learned From Growing Roses

There’s something about roses that keeps drawing me back.
Over the years, I’ve grown roses in several different gardens. Some have thrived, some have struggled, and a few have sadly met an untimely end thanks to pests, weather or my own gardening mistakes! Yet no matter where we’ve lived, I’ve always found room for at least a few rose bushes.

When we moved here, I was so happy to find that there were some gorgeous varieties of roses in our garden. So one of the first things I wanted to do was add some more to the already beautiful display.
I’m certainly no expert, but after many years of growing roses, here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.

Roses Are Tougher Than You Think

When I first started gardening, I thought roses were fussy plants that needed constant attention.
While some varieties can be a little more demanding than others, most roses are surprisingly resilient. They can bounce back from a hard pruning, survive less-than-perfect weather and often recover from mistakes that would finish off more delicate plants.
I’ve learned not to panic if a rose isn’t looking its best. More often than not, it will come back stronger.

The Right Spot Makes All The Difference

If there’s one thing roses really do appreciate, it’s sunshine. The happiest roses I’ve grown have always been the ones planted where they receive plenty of sunlight and good air circulation. A sunny position helps encourage more flowers and keeps many common diseases at bay.

I learned this the hard way after planting a rose in a shady corner years ago. It survived, but it never truly flourished.

Feed Them And They’ll Reward You

One lesson I’ve learned repeatedly is that roses are hungry plants.
A little feed in spring can make a huge difference to the number of blooms and overall health of the plant. It’s one of those gardening jobs that is easy to forget, but the results are always worth it.
The roses that receive a little extra care tend to put on the best show later in the season.

Deadheading Is Worth The Effort

I’ll admit that sometimes I fall behind with deadheading. However, whenever I keep on top of removing spent flowers, the plants almost always reward me with more blooms. It only takes a few minutes, but it encourages the rose to keep producing flowers rather than putting energy into seed production.
It’s one of those small gardening tasks that has a surprisingly big impact.

Not Every Rose Will Be A Success

One thing gardening has taught me in general is that not everything works out. I’ve planted roses that simply didn’t thrive, despite my best efforts. Sometimes a variety just isn’t suited to a particular spot or garden.

Rather than seeing it as a failure, I’ve learned to view it as part of the process. Gardening is often about trial and error.

Stop And Enjoy The Flowers

This might be the biggest lesson of all.
It’s easy to become focused on pruning, feeding, weeding and dealing with pests. But roses are meant to be enjoyed.
Some of my favourite gardening moments involve simply sitting outside with a cup of tea and admiring the blooms.
For me, a garden never quite feels complete without a rose or two.

Are you a rose lover too? I’d love to hear about your favourite varieties or any tips you’ve picked up along the way.