Growing roses in Aussie gardens

Our unique climate can pose some tricky challenges for growing roses. But with a few tips and a bit of nurture, you too can enjoy these gorgeous flowers in your garden.

Roses are characteristic of traditional English gardens, and while they have become a much-loved feature of Australian homes, they are not naturally suited to our climate. However, you can grow roses and in fact, the effects of our warmer conditions make rose growing in Australia quite unique.

Vivienne Etter from The Swiss Rose Garden Nursery in Armadale, Western Australia, is well aware of the challenges of growing roses in warmer climates. She believes that roses naturally thrive in cooler states like Victoria, while in Western Australia they need diligent watering and a hardy rootstock known as Fortuniana to succeed.

"Roses grown on Fortuniana rootstock are relatively drought resistant, but they need daily watering during the first summer that they are planted," she says. "After that, the rose will develop a good root system and can survive on being watered only twice a week."

Organic matter for the garden

According to Vivienne, ensuring that your soil contains lots of organic matter before planting will give your roses the best chance of success. Fertilising is also essential to grow roses that are healthy - this should be done every six to eight weeks during the flowering period.

Roses enjoy light rather than shade and some varieties can flower for up to six months at a time in temperate climates. Some even take on a different appearance after being drenched in sun.

"Colours change a little, depending on how hot the area is," notes Vivienne. "The colours also change in the summer, as the sun's intensity bleaches them a little. What would be described as a black-red rose in spring or autumn becomes a red rose during summer."

Following simple planting rules

No matter where your garden is located, there are some common practices to observe when it comes to growing roses in Australia. A healthy plant will produce a lot of blooms that should be routinely trimmed. "It is essential that spent blooms are cut off to encourage new flowers," says Vivienne.

The benefit is that you get to enjoy the flowers both inside and out, but caution should be exercised when pruning roses. "Cutting the stems about halfway down, just above an outward-facing leaf node (rather than just nipping the old flower heads off), will encourage strong new flower shoots," says Vivienne.

Roses are unfortunately prone to diseases and bugs, such as aphids, that eat the leaves and petals. The best way to combat disease is to keep the plant strong and healthy, but bugs may require an insecticide. Environmentally aware gardeners may consider a more natural insecticide made from a pyrethrin base, but the product would need to be applied more frequently.

To bring some gorgeous blooms to your garden this summer, find a rose nursery in your area: