Roses

Rose care at Kew

As in any garden, ensuring top quality displays of roses is an important and often time-consuming job.

In March the roses are pruned back into a framework with all old, dead, diseased and damaged wood removed. A granular fertiliser is then applied to the rose beds to help to promote healthy new growth after pruning. The beds are mulched at this time of year, using farmyard manure, doubling up as mulch and fertiliser.
April sees the first foliage feed application containing a high potassium content to increase flower production. At the same time a programme for the spraying of pesticides and fungicides is started and and is carried when pests and diseases begin to show throughout the growing season to combat blackspot, mildew, aphids and thrips.

At the end of autumn the roses are cut back by approximately one-third to reduce wind rock.

More plants

Back up to: Roses home