(See more on growing roses in pots.) Cover a slope: Miniature roses can be grown in smaller pots or hanging baskets. Containers should be at least 15 to 20 inches in diameter and 18 to 24 inches deep. Many roses can be successfully grown in containers, a good solution for small spaces, apartment balconies, patios, and decks. Train climbers along a fence to define garden rooms or to soften an unsightly chain link fence. Train other vining plants such as clematis to grow up through shrub or climbing roses to create exciting flower combinations. Include climbing roses to maximize your space. Place a bench, water feature, or statuary at the far end of the rose garden to draw the eye through the landscape and encourage visitors to wander and linger.Ĭreate a grand entrance to your home with a rose-covered arbor.Plant fragrant rose varieties near a deck or patio where you can enjoy the sweet perfume.Site the rose garden where you can enjoy it from inside the home.Include seating areas in different parts of the yard, which will encourage you to spend more time enjoying your rose garden.For foundation plantings, allow enough distance between shrubs and the home’s facade to provide adequate air circulation.Don’t allow plants to obstruct entrances or doors so visitors don’t get scratched by thorns.Leave plenty of room around rose plants so they don’t crowd sidewalks or other trafficked areas.Choose roses with lighter colored flowers in hues of white or yellow to make the space look larger and brighter.
Limit the color scheme to one or two hues so the design doesn’t look too busy.Select a few key rose specimens rather than trying to crowd in a lot of different varieties.Maximize the use of space by including vertical elements such as climbing roses and trellises.Choose smaller rose varieties that will stay in scale with a more intimate space.Plant larger groupings with the same flower color for a more unified look.Plant in drifts of 3 to 5 specimens of the same variety for greater visual impact.Choose larger rose varieties that will show up better in the landscape.Keep scale in mind when adding hardscape, seating and structures such as arbors and pergolas, which are typically included in rose gardens.Create a design with formal rooms or mixed borders that are grand in scale so it doesn’t get lost in the surrounding landscape.Plant fragrant rose varieties near a deck or patio to enjoy their fragrance up close. CREATE A ROSE GARDEN IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPACES Some older types, particularly hybrid teas, can be higher maintenance and more disease-prone. Many newer varieties such as Oso Easy Roses are bred for disease-resistance, vigor, and long bloom time. Select varieties for traits including size, shape, flower color, and form, fragrance and repeat or continual bloom. Plant selection:Ĭhoose roses that are easy-care and hardy in your region. For containers, use a high quality all-purpose potting soil and make sure pots have adequate drainage holes. Amend the soil with compost or other organic matter. Roses like rich, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH between 6.0-7.0. Select colors that you enjoy and that will also help unify the home with the landscape. Do you want a clean formal look with structured hardscape, or a more natural appearance with other plants mixed in? Pick a style that will harmonize with your home’s exterior. Consider structures such as pergolas, arbors or trellises, as well as seating and decorative accents.ĭecide what kind of rose garden you want.Beds should be small enough to allow for pruning and other maintenance chores.Draw up a rough sketch as you’re brainstorming to help visualize what the finished garden will look like.Gather ideas from books and online sources for inspiration.Make sure the site gets at least 6-8 hours of sun a day and has good air circulation to help prevent disease. On this page: Planning | Different Spaces | Landscaping Tips | What to Plant With Roses | Design Ideas | More Rose Gardens
Here are the basics of rose garden design, along with some ideas to get you started. Even smaller spaces can accommodate roses in containers, raised beds, or narrow side yards. It can be as elaborate as a formal landscape embellished with hardscaping, arbors, seating, and statuary. While these long-lived shrubs have a reputation of being somewhat fussy, newer cultivars bred for disease-resistance and vigor have made growing roses easy for even novice gardeners.Ī rose garden can be as simple as a single rose specimen interspersed with a few other plants. Photo by: Proven Winners Other Popular Rose Topics:Īs one of the world’s most beloved garden plants, roses deserve a prominent spot in the landscape.