A
GUIDE TO GROWING
BEAUTIFUL ROSES
MODULE ONE
A GUIDE TO GROWING BEAUTIFUL ROSES
This course lets you flick through five modules and learn our top tips for growing healthy, happy roses. It also includes helpful video guides on how to care for roses year-round, which is ideal knowledge when advising customers.
LOOK OUT FOR THE SPADE ILLUSTRATION FOR OUR GARDENER’S TOP TIPS
Begin your rose knowledge journey with Module One
GETTING TO KNOW THEIR GARDEN
English roses are some of the most beautiful, rewarding, and captivating plants your customer can grow in their garden. They are renowned for their exquisite blooms and sensational fragrances. If your customer is new to gardening or growing roses, getting to know their garden or outdoor space is the perfect place to start advising them on how to grow beautiful roses.
In this lesson, we will explore the key characteristics of your customer’s garden to consider when advising them on how to grow roses:
David Austin Roses
GERTRUDE JEKYLL ® (Ausbord)
UNDERSTANDING YOUR SOIL TYPE
Getting familiar with your soil type is fundamental to gardening and is often the key to success when growing anything. Fortunately, roses are exceptionally versatile plants and will grow happily in almost all soil types. But, depending on which soil type you have, you may need to adjust your roses care routine accordingly.
GARDENER’S TIP
Roses love well-draining and moderately rich soil. Adding organic matter (like well-rotted manure or soil improver) to the soil is a great way to improve structure, aid drainage and add vital nutrients.
David Austin Roses
a. Discover what they are working with
Read the descriptions below to identify which soil best describes what your customer has in their garden:
CLAY SOIL:
Heavy, compacted soil that retains moisture but can become extremely dry. Typically high in nutrients but can be harder to work with.
SANDY SOIL:
Loose, well-draining soil that is easy to work with but dries out quickly and may lack nutrients.
LOAMY SOIL:
A perfect balance of sand, silt and clay, offering good drainage and nutrient retention.
SILTY SOIL:
Fine-textured soil that holds moisture well but can become compacted easily.
David Austin Roses
Discovering your customer’s soil type doesn’t need to be complicated, here’s a quick and easy method to unearth all the information you need about their soil.
THE SQUEEZE TEST:
Ask your customer to take a handful of damp soil and squeeze it in their palm.
If it feels slick or tacky, it’s likely to be CLAY SOIL
If it holds its shape but crumbles easily when touched, it’s likely to be LOAMY SOIL
If it falls apart easily and is grainy, it’s likely to be SANDY SOIL
If it feels smooth or slippery and holds it shape, it’s likely to be SILTY SOIL
Once you have determined which soil type your customer has, they can make some simple adjustments to help their roses thrive. For example, you may advise them to add organic matter to their soil to improve the texture, drainage, and nutrients, or you may advise them to water more frequently because their soil is prone to drying out.
by David Austin Roses
b. pH - finding a balance
Soil pH can significantly impact your customers’ success with growing roses. Roses thrive in soil with a balanced pH level, so soil that is too acidic or alkaline can lead to problems.
We recommend advising your customer to purchase a widely available DIY pH test, which you may stock to determine the pH. If you do not, another garden centre may, or they can find one online. When testing, your customer will aim for a pH between 6.0 and 7.5, which is ideal for roses.
Soil that is either too acidic or too alkaline can make it difficult for your customers; roses to absorb nutrients, ultimately leading to an unhappy plant. If your customers; soil is outside the optimum range, advise them on how to improve it or recommend that they speak to one of our rose experts to find the best course of action. Typically, adding materials like lime or sulphur can easily remedy pH issues.
GARDENER’S TIP
Ask them to think of plants that grow well in their immediate area. This often provides clues about their soil. For example, if their neighbour has thriving rhododendrons, camellias, or heathers, this could indicate that the soil is acidic in their area.
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David Austin Roses
GARDEN ASPECT & SUNLIGHT 02.
Now that you have established what is beneath the surface of your customers’ gardens, asking them about the amount of direct sunlight their rose receives during the growing season is crucial. Roses are generally sun-loving plants, but there are plenty of options that will grow well in partial shade. Typically, roses require a minimum of four hours of direct sunlight daily.
David Austin Roses
PAUL’S HIMALAYAN MUSK
a. Reach for the compass
DETERMINING THE ASPECT OF THEIR GARDEN
Understanding which aspect your customers’ garden faces is a great starting point for deciphering how much sun it gets.
NORTH-FACING:
North-facing gardens receive the least direct sunlight. Therefore, advise your customer to plant more shade-tolerant roses and position them where they will receive the most sun.
SOUTH-FACING:
South-facing gardens receive the most direct sunlight throughout the whole day. Roses should flourish in south-facing gardens, but it may mean additional watering is required.
EAST & WEST-FACING:
East and West-facing gardens receive either morning or afternoon sun. This typically provides ample direct sunlight, and roses do well in these conditions.
You can determine which aspect your customers’ garden faces by asking where the sun rises and sets or advising them to use a compass, a feature found on most modern smartphones. Advise them to stand with their back towards their home and use a compass to determine which direction south is, this will be a great starting point. Rights reserved by
David Austin Roses
b. Shadows and sun traps
FINDING THE NUANCES OF YOUR CUSTOMER’S GARDEN
Once you’ve determined the aspect of your customers’ garden, we recommend asking them to spend some time overseeing their garden and how the sunlight changes throughout the day. Every few hours, advise them to note down a few observations, such as the spots that receive the most sun or any areas that become heavily shaded by nearby buildings and trees. This should help you determine the ideal areas for your customers to plant roses in their garden or outdoor space
GARDENER’S TIP
A north-facing wall can be a difficult area to work within the garden, but English roses can be a great solution.We have a helpful collection of English roses that can be grown on a north-facing wall, covering any unsightly areas and brightening up dreary corners your customers may have.
by David Austin Roses
PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OF KENT ® (Ausmerchant)
Growing roses can be a rewarding, simple and enjoyable experience for all levels of gardeners. Now that you have familiarised yourself with soil type and sunlight patterns, you are ready to help your customer decide to find the perfect rose for their garden. In lesson two, we’ll guide you through helping your customer select the ideal rose for their space-ready to make their garden goals a reality.
Want to learn more? Click below to start Module two
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David Austin Roses, Bowling Green Lane, Albrighton, Shropshire, WV7 3HB
KEW GARDENS ® (Ausfence)