How To Care For Roses

19 Jun, 2025

Growing roses is easier than you might think! With a little TLC, your garden will be bursting with beautiful blooms before you know it. Whether you're planting your first rose or brushing up on the basics, this beginner-friendly guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get your roses off to a blooming good start!

Planting

Finding the Right Spot!

Great roses start with a great location. Roses thrive in full sun and well-draining soil that’s rich in organic matter. If you're gardening in a humid area like Auckland, choose a spot with good airflow to help reduce the risk of fungal diseases. Avoid planting roses too close to large trees, as they may compete for nutrients and sunlight.


Into the Ground We Go!

Roses prefer being planted straight into the garden rather than in pots — this gives their roots plenty of room to stretch out and grow strong. Planting directly into the ground also encourages deeper root systems, which can make roses more resilient in dry conditions.


Dig the Hole

Start by digging a hole that’s twice the size of your rose’s pot. For heavier clay soils, go a little larger to increase drainage.


Prep Your Soil

Mix your original soil with Kings Compost and Kings Sheep Pellets, or use Kings Garden Mix. If your soil is heavy clay, break up the sides of your planting hole as you backfill, and mix in a handful of Clay Breaker Gypsum to help improve drainage.


Plant Your Rose

Position your rose in the hole, then backfill with your soil mix and some of the existing soil. Press the soil down gently but firmly. If your garden has poor drainage, plant the rose on a slight mound to keep the roots happy and dry.


Water & Feed

Give your newly planted rose a deep drink of water. Follow up with Kings Slow-Release Rose Food to set it up for success. Finally, mulch around the base (keeping it a few centimetres from the stem) to lock in moisture and keep weeds away

Pruning

Pruning can seem daunting but it's actually quite simple and so worth it. A good winter prune encourages lush, healthy growth and more flowers when spring arrives.


When Should You Prune?

Aim to prune when roses are dormant - typically late June to early July.


What You'll Need

  • Sharp secateurs
  • Sturdy gloves
  • Pruning saw (for larger branches)
  • Yates Lime Sulfur (to spray after pruning)
  • Pruning paste (for larger cuts)

Bush and Standard Roses

Shape the plant into an open vase by removing any dead, diseased or damaged wood, thin twigs and crossing branches. Then, cut back the remaining stems by hand by at least one-third, trimming to an outward-facing bud.

Climbing Roses

Clear out thin or tangled twigs, open up the centre for better aurflow and reduce the size of the plant by about a third.

Now for the Fun Part - Choosing you Roses!

Now that you've got the basics down, it's time for the most exciting part - picking your favourites! Whether you're after timeless elegance or a pop of personality, we've rounded up some of our most popular rose varieties to inspire your garden dreams.

Iceberg

A true classic and a new Zealand bestseller! Iceberg roses are beloved for their clusters of crisp white blooms that flower continuously. They're strong growers, disease-resistant, and make a stunning statement as standard roses. Effortless and elegant - what's not to love?

Emily Brontë

Romantic and refined, Emile Brontë is a rose with real charm. It's unusually flat, intricately packed petals form soft peach blooms that smell absolutely divine. With a strong old-world fragrance and eye-catching form, this rose brings literary beauty to any border.

Aroha

A breathtaking new release to New Zealand, Aroha delights with perfectly formed cherry-red blooms set against rich, deep green glossy foliage. Ideal for cutting, with exquisite buds that bloom gracefully. Aroha flowers repeatedly throughout the season, bringing enduing beauty to any garden.

A Gardener's Dream

Just like the name suggests, this one's a joy to grow! With cheerful apricot clusters and a knack for repeat flowering, A Gardener's Dream is a fabulous floribunda rose for beginners and seasoned rose lovers alike. Low-maintenance, high reward!

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