Everything's Coming Up Roses

Starting a rose garden is not nearly as intimidating as it may seem, writes Guinevere Davies

- Guinevere Davies

When it comes to creating visual impact in a garden space, you really can’t go wrong with a bed of roses. With so many varieties, colours and sizes to choose from, a rose garden provides maximum pleasure with minimum fuss.

CHOOSE YOUR BLOOMS

“Before you start, it’s a good idea to decide at what height you want your roses to grow, what colours you envisage and the type of bloom you love,” advises Halmar Taschner of Ludwig’s Roses. “Roses grow in all areas of South Africa. In the warmer climates they will grow taller than described and they will also flower well. In colder climates, you will have larger blooms of a more intense colour, albeit a few less in number.”

Gail Birss of the Midlands Rose Society adds, “The Ludwig’s Roses catalogue comes out every year and gives descriptions of hundreds of types of roses, including everything from colour to shape and height. The ones labelled Eco-Chic™ would be the best choice for beginners as they are naturally resistant to fungus and disease.

“Iceberg is the most popular rose in South Africa and there are a few roses that we can recommend that grow well and produce lovely flowers, like Duet, Double Delight and My Granny.”

According to the team at Life is a Garden, “Rose plants established in plant bags or pots will create an instant rose bed. Within three to four months, newly planted rose bushes should be flowering well and will continue for the rest of the season. Climbing roses, however, require a year or longer to reach the expected height and spread.”