How to grow more roses in less space:

CREATE LAYERS

Standard roses add instant height and accent and, unlike trees, they don’t keep getting taller. Underneath they can be planted with low growing flowers, herbs or even vegetables.

BLENDED BORDERS

Roses don’t have to have their own formal space. They can be combined with other plants in a mixed planting scheme.

GO VERTICAL

Every sunny wall, fence, pergola or post is an opportunity to grow a rose. Roses will even grow up trees. Train a tall shrub or climbing rose up a post or build your own rose obelisk. In winter, an obelisk becomes a feature in its own right, adding vertical accent without taking up too much space.

ROSES IN CONTAINERS

Some roses are specifically bred for tubs and pots. Generally known as patio roses, these varieties are compact and repeat flowering with an abundance of bloom that belies their size. Any rose grown in a container needs regular feeding and watering. The larger the pot, the less likely it is to run out of water or food too quickly.

PRIORITISE

With countless roses to choose from and new cultivars cropping up every single year, no garden has space for every beautiful rose on offer. Passionate plant lovers often find it difficult to throw away anything with life left in it, but saying goodbye to a poor performer frees up space for something better. When it comes to roses we have to be selective and plant the varieties that best fit our needs. Disease resistant roses minimise the need for spraying. Some rose varieties produce significantly more flowers or flower for longer than others. While all roses have some scent, some are more potently perfumed than others.