Roses are one of Britons’ most celebrated flowers, producing showy blooms and delectable scents throughout the year.
Most gardeners meet the flower’s needs without difficulty, but those willing to go the extra mile can enjoy bigger and healthier blossoms.
A retired teacher named Joss Orton, a passionate gardener, recently shared one of the techniques that helped him multiply the blooms on his 200 rose species.
Discussing his techniques with Country Gardeners, the expert said: “Roses need to be healthy and vigorous if they are to give the best blooms and enjoy the longest flowering seasons.
Roses produce bigger and stronger blooms when looked after properly
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“The number of flowers you enjoy will, as I have found, really depend on the variety you grow.
“Many roses need the sun to ripen their stems fully if they are to produce flood flowers but if you have shade then go for the alpha group of roses which will bloom whether they get the sun for the only part of the day.”
The gardener explained that conditions of your soil also influence how rose shrubs fare throughout the year.
Improving the quality of soil will ensure the blooms can withstand unfavourable weather conditions.
“Roses will, more than any other plant I have worked with, respond if the soil is improved,” Joss explained.
“They particularly benefit from being mulched in early spring with well-rotted manure or garden compost which will hold on to its moisture and provide nutrients for the plants.
“Bush roses are expected to produce masses of growth and blooms often twice in the same year and without additional feeding, the plants can quickly become weak with fewer blooms.
“Fertilisers high in potash applied in spring will create flower buds for successive flowering in the autumn.”
The Royal Horticultural Society recommends mixing at least one bucket of well-rotted organic matter per square metre and forking into the top 20-30cm (8in-1ft) of soil where the roses are planted.
“Farmyard manure is ideal for this,” the gardening body adds.
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The quality of soil improves the lifespan and growth of roses
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Gardening guru Fiona Jenkins recommends using fruit peels to boost nutrients in the soil, explaining that it can prove helpful for strengthening the flower’s roots.
“To strengthen your plant, you can use potassium-rich feeds such as Tomorite and your old banana peels into the soil near the plant,” she told GB News. “Do this at the beginning of spring to support growth.”
Placing one or two peels at the base of each rose shrub will give the plants enough potassium to turbocharge their growth over the summer.
The peels will eventually rot down into the soil and encourage the shrubs to release large doses of flowers.
