Growing Rose Bushes: A Beginner’s Guide

If you’re just getting started on your rose growing journey, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re about to plant your first rose bush or explore the methods of propagation from cuttings or seeds, the process of bringing it to life is sure to bring you much joy. 

Choosing Your Rose Type

With such a wide variety, choosing your first rose can feel overwhelming. You want to make sure to pick one that’s going to grow well in your climatic conditions and with the space you have. Roses love to sunbathe – so make sure to pick a spot in your garden that gets at least 6 hours of sun per day.

• Hybrid Tea Rose:

  The classic choice (think Beauty and the Beast). With its long stems and large blooms, the hybrid tea adds an air of elegance to any environment. The expertise required is minimal – making it perfect for beginners. Hybrid tea rose bushes should be planted 30-36 inches apart.
  

April & Ashley’s recommendation: Rose De Rennes™ 

• Shrub Rose:

  Another excellent choice for new growers. This rose is tough, disease-resistant, and requires minimal maintenance. It thrives in all kinds of conditions. Small shrubs should be planted 24-30 inches apart, while larger shrubs should be planted 30-36 inches apart .

April & Ashley’s recommendation: Sirius™ 

• Climbing Rose:

  Climbing roses bloom repeatedly throughout the season and can grow anywhere from 8-15 feet in height. They should be planted 4-5 feet apart. 

• Rambler Rose:

  This untamed beauty grows wild and free. If you don’t have access to much horizontal, sprawling space, consider this rose. It blooms once a year with masses of small, fragrant flowers. Rambler roses can grow anywhere from 12-50 feet. Spacing will vary depending on the structure you’re growing them on. 

April & Ashley’s recommendation: Perfume Breeze™

• Floribunda:

  A rose meant for cutting. It blooms continually and produces small clusters on each stem. It’s rich in both color and fragrance. Floribunda rose bushes should be planted 24-30 inches apart.

  April & Ashley’s recommendation: Anuschka™ 

• Grandiflora:

  With its large blooms and cluster-forming habit, this rose is a gorgeous cross between a hybrid tea & floribunda. 

Supplies You’ll Need: 

For container or potted roses:

• A pot (about 2 x 2 feet for ample growing space) with drain holes. Roses don’t like having soggy roots!

• Potting soil - Use an organic potting soil mix that doesn’t contain granular fertilizer to avoid burning the roots. 

• Compost - Use compost to enrich the soil and help with water retention. 

• Fertilizer - It’s best to feed your container roses with a liquid fertilizer to avoid overheating and burning the roots. 

• Watering can

• Pruning shears

For bare-root roses, see our post on How to Plant a Bare-Root Rose Bush in 8 Easy Steps.

Planting Your Roses

The best time to plant your roses is either in early spring (just after the last frost) or early fall (6 weeks before the first frost). When exactly this occurs will depend on your zone. Check out our Guide to Hardiness Zones & What They Mean to figure out which zone you’re located in.

To plant a container/potted rose that will thrive all season, follow these simple steps:

1. Fill your pot:

Fill your pot with potting soil up to 6 or 7 inches from the top. This will allow you to add more soil after placing your rose in the pot – providing extra support. 

 2. Place your rose:

Place your rose about 3 inches from the top of the pot. This will prevent the soil from overflowing when you water it. 

3. Add extra soil & compost:

Add an extra inch or so of your potting soil. Then feed your rose with a layer of compost. This will provide much-needed nutrients to your rose and help it retain water – creating a strong line of defense against disease.

4. Water your rose:

With your watering can, slowly water your rose until the water begins to drain out of the bottom of the pot.

Propagating Roses from Cuttings

Growing roses from cuttings is a fun, easy, and economical way to multiply your roses. To get started, follow these steps:

1. Take your cuttings:

Only take cuttings from healthy plants. Find a node (a point where the leaves join the stem). Cut just below it with a sparkling clean, sharp pair of clippers. Pick a stem that isn’t too flimsy, but also not too hard (known as semi-hardwood). Stay away from any browned stems – they’ll take much longer to root. 

2. Remove lower leaves:

Buried leaves can allow diseases to infect your rose. If you like the aesthetic of leaves on your rose, the ones on the upper part of the stem can stay.

3. Dip the stem into a rooting hormone:

This gives your rose that extra boost it needs to take root even faster. When choosing a rooting hormone, just look for “semi-hardwood cuttings” on the packaging. 

4. Stick your cutting:

Stick your cutting into your pot – just enough to bury one leaf node. Burying too much of the stem can cause it to take up too much moisture – leaving it at risk for rot. 

Check out the premium, fresh rose bouquets offered from April and Ashely, delivered straight from our family farms to your doorstep.

Growing Roses from Seeds

Growing roses from seeds can be easily done as long as you have one thing – patience. Every seed is unique – making germination time hard to predict. It can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months, or even longer. 

1. Seed Collection, Extraction, & Cleaning

If you have roses in your garden already, gather up the rose hips and cut them open to extract the seeds. Then place them in a strainer, rinse thoroughly with purified water, and soak them in a very mild bleach solution (2 teaspoons of bleach per cup of water). Give them one more rinse, and they’ll be ready for the next step. 

2. Stratification

To germinate properly, your rose seeds need to be stored in a cold, moist environment for 8 to 12 weeks.

Plant the seeds about ¼ to ½ inch deep into potting soil in a planting tray. Mist the planting mix with a spray bottle so that it’s moist, but not soaking wet. You don’t want the seeds to dry out, but you also don’t want to leave them at risk for mold. Place the seed tray in the refrigerator.

If you notice the seeds sprouting early, go ahead and take them out. They are ready to plant!

3. Labeling Your Seeds

If you’re planting several varieties of roses, it can get confusing! Avoid frustration down the line by clearly labeling your planting trays with their respective rose varieties. 

Caring for Your Roses

Watering:

Generally, roses need 4 to 5 gallons per week to stay hydrated – even more in hot weather. But they also hate having wet feet. So make sure the soil remains moist, but not soaking wet. Water slowly at the base of the plant to make sure your rose absorbs as much as possible. This also prevents wet foliage – reducing the risk of disease.

Feeding:

Add an organic fertilizer around the base of your rose. This will provide it with the nutrients it needs to thrive. A few good options are:

• Rose tone

• Cotton seed meal

• Alfalfa pellets

• Chicken pellets

For container roses, a liquid fertilizer is best.

Pruning: 

Promote healthy growth by pruning back your roses. It may seem intimidating, but don’t worry. Your roses will be grateful to you for disposing of anything that doesn’t allow them to bloom to their fullest potential. The important steps to take for pruning your rose bushes are:

• Use clean pruners to avoid spreading disease – particularly when going from bush to bush.

• Cut out any dead, dying, diseased, or crossing canes. 

• Take out thin, spindly branches that don’t have the strength to support healthy blooms.

Common Fungal Diseases on Roses (And How to Treat Them):

Black Spot:

A common infection that weakens the rose plant and reduces flowering. Symptoms include: 

• Small black lines on the upper side of the rose. Over a few days, these lines connect to form larger black spots. 

• Purpley red stems with raised splotches or lesions

• A bright yellow color on the leaf

• Fallen infected leaves

Treatment: 

Immediately remove infected leaves from the rose and the ground and dispose of them. Spray your rose with an organic fungicide containing sulfur every 7 to 14 days.

Powdery Mildew: 

Another common fungal disease that – if left untreated – can spread and damage your rose. Telltale signs include:

• Red, blister-like growths on the upper surface of the leaves

• White patches on the upper surface of the leaves

• Powdery, fungal growth on the leaves 

Treatment: 

Remove the infected leaves and spray the rose with an organic fungicide (such a neem oil) weekly. 

Other Common Rose Growing Challenges:

• Yellowing leaves

• Poor flowering

Potential Causes & Solutions:

• Improper pruning. Inspect your rose and remove any weak or dead stems. If the stems are turning brown, it’s a good sign they should be cut out. 

• Nutrient deficiency in the soil. Test for the levels of nitrogen and iron in your soil. If the levels are inadequate, apply a balanced fertilizer with organic matter (such as rotted manure). 

• Fungal diseases such as black spot or powdery mildew (see section above on common fungal diseases on roses).

With a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips, it’s time to start the rose garden you’ve been dreaming of. Visit April and Ashley to browse our selection of premium rose bushes and rose bouquets.

Happy gardening!

April & Ashley