On behalf of Knight’s Roses, I’m very proud of our hardworking team, quality roses, continued expansion and especially our record-breaking sales over the past few years. Of course, this growth would not have been possible without the support of our loyal wholesale and retail customers, and I thank you for your business.

For us, our passion for roses has only increased as we pursue new ideas and work towards our vision for the future. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any enquiries.

As we celebrate Christmas, may your heart be filled with hope, peace and joy – wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the whole team at Knight’s Roses.

Daniel Knight

Phone (08) 8523 1311, email retailsales@knightsroses.com.au or visit our website.

Each year The National Rose Trial Garden of Australia, which is located within the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, holds a public judging event. Rose Introducers in Australia place a great deal of importance on this coveted award purely because the rose is selected by the public and not by a panel of experts.

On 15 -16 April, the general public was encouraged to visit the trial garden to cast their votes for their top five roses. The voting results provide an excellent insight for rose breeders, rose introducers, growers and retailers as to the varieties and types of roses which are most popular with the public.

‘Forever Yours’ was announced the most popular rose receiving the 2023 People’s Choice Award after the public judging. Over 600 members of the public attended to select their favourite roses which had been trialled for nearly two years.  The velvety red Hybrid Tea, bred by Rosen Tantau, was the clear winner.

Forever Yours is a highly anticipated new release for 2024. Beautiful and fragrant, it features impressive, fully double, large red velvet blooms that are very long lasting and suitable as a cut flower. This rose has strong upright growth reaching 1.2m tall, produces abundant new shoots and has glossy healthy foliage with good disease resistance and excellent repeat flowering ability. Awarded the ‘Rose of Madrid’ in 2018 and Certificate of Merit (NRTGA) in 2023.

There is definitely a trend to have more disease resistant roses and a desire towards space efficient roses which use less ground space such as pillars, climbers and upright shrub roses.

If you ever wanted flowering walls to enchant and embellish your garden, then try growing ‘Camelot’ a new, attractive, uniquely coloured pink climbing rose from Rosen Tantau.

The beautiful medium-sized flowers are produced in clusters with fine, dark pink flecking on the petals. The flowers are loosely fully double and have a moderate citrus fragrance. When fully open the blooms are very bee friendly and self-cleaning.

Camelot has very vigorous growth and will reach approximately 3m tall x 1m wide. The plant continuously produces strong new canes, substantially from the bottom, which are ideal to train against a trellis or structure.

This new variety displays healthy foliage with excellent disease resistance to blackspot and mildew.

Awarded Best Climbing Rose Variety in Belfast, Ireland, in 2014 and Rose of the Year in Sweden in 2022. Order in advance to avoid disappointment.

If you have limited space, or a rental property or more plants than your garden allows, you can grow your roses successfully in pots. Potted roses are ideal for your verandah, patio, courtyard, balcony, along pathways and other areas where their beauty, colour and fragrance can been joyed. Another advantage is pots can be moved into feature areas while they are in full bloom. With their long flowering season, rounded bushy growth and fragrance, roses make highly effective containerised plants.

TIPS FOR GROWING ROSES IN POTS

1.         Choose a location which receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. The advantage of growing a rose in a container is that you can shift it to ensure it is in the right position for sunlight or move it under partial shade during heatwaves.

Courtyards which are open to full sun every day can get very hot in summer – it is suggested that some afternoon shade protection is advisable during heatwaves.

2.         Ensure the pot can be shifted. This can be achieved by having the pot on a low stand with wheels or use a sack-truck under it for easy relocation. Mark the side of the pot which faces north and when you relocate it ensure the pot is placed to face the sun in the same position.

3.         Container size – the bigger the better so plants can perform at their best!  But as a general guide a bush rose needs a pot 30 to 40cm in diameter. Half wine barrels make excellent containers for roses but shifting or repotting roses grown in these containers can be a challenge. Choose terracotta, ceramic, concrete, fibreglass or wood containers as they do not absorb heat like black plastic pots which should be avoided. Light coloured pots will stay cooler. They also need ample drainage holes.

4.         Choose quality potting soil. It must be a “premium mix” which is free draining but retains moisture. Roses should be repotted with new soil every 2 – 5 years. Winter is the best time to repot your rose plants. Clean pots as disease can spread easily in dirty containers. Add some Neutrog ‘Seamungus’ pellets in to the mix. Maintain a level of 5 – 10cm of mulch on the top.

5.         Roses in pots require regular watering, the soil must remain moist and cannot be allowed to dry out. Summer conditions are challenging for potted plants. Water the pot until water is freely draining through the holes at the base, then cease watering. The drainage holes cannot be allowed to block up as roses hate ‘wet feet’. If the container is the right size for the rose it will need a good watering 2 to 3 times per week in the summer and maybe daily during heatwaves. Watering can be reduced to 1 to 2 times per week at other times. You can put your finger 2cm deep in the potto test dampness, if your finger comes out clean the soil is dry.

6.         Fertilising is another important element. Feed the roots with a few Neutrog Seamungus pellets and Neutrog Sudden Impact for Roses pellets lightly scratched into the top surface. These break down slowly over 4 to 6 weeks constantly feeding the potted plant. They can then be replenished every 6 or so weeks. Sudden Impact for Roses is also available in a liquid form and its organic base provides a full range of nutrients in a slow-release form.

An application of Neutrog GoGo Juice (a pro-biotic and soil improver) every 6 weeks also ensures the potting mix maintains an active mixture of live microbiological organisms which help to break down compost and fertiliser into digestible forms for the potted rose and helps the plant withstand stress.

7.         The final point relates to pests and diseases. Potted roses can often get spider mite and to avoid this, thoroughly wet the foliage (both underneath and above)with a strong stream of water every 7 to 10 days. Similarly, aphids can be washed off or rubbed off the foliage. An occasional spray with Eco-oil or pest oil will control fungal problems and help with insect control.

CHOOSING WHICH ROSES TO PLANT

Generally, you should consider selecting varieties that have an even growth habit, maintain a regular shape and good repeat flowering throughout the flowering season.

In big tubs, standard roses can be grown with smaller annual flowering plants for colour. Good standard roses for pots include: Black Caviar, FireStar, Per-Fyoom Perfume, Double Knockout, Seduction, Friesia, Gold Bunny and Iceberg.

Or choose smaller rose varieties such as Bees’ Paradise Bicolour or Pink, Dream Chaser, Apricot Clementine, Hot Pink Bonica, Little Wishes and The Fairy.

Watering

The most important ingredient for roses in summer is water. Water your rose bushes deeply. Generally, established roses need an average of 20 to 30L of water foreach rose per week. It is essential that a rose is well hydrated prior to expected heatwaves, where the temp is above 35°C on average thus use 30 to 40L per plant. Its recommended to apply the water in one weekly application or, at most, twice per week preferably early morning. Deep watering weekly is far better than small amounts daily. These watering recommendations assume you have a substantial covering of mulch. Without mulch, you will need twice the volume of water per plant. Young, newly planted roses will benefit from alternate, fortnightly applications of Liquid Seamungus and GoGo Juice as part of their watering regime.

Irrigation systems should be checked to ensure they are working effectively and fix any leaks or problems.

Pests and Diseases

Given our hot, dry, low-humidity summers, most fungal issues disappear and pests such as Aphids and grubs also “back off”. Spider Mite may be an issue and when present, lower leaves close to the ground may be pale in colour. Remove a leaf, turn it over and watch carefully (a magnifying glass may help). If insects, the size of pepper, start moving around and/or a fine web is evident, Spider Mite are present. Water sprayed upward from under the leaves can assist with the removal of early infections as Spider Mites don’t like to be wet.

There are now many natural remedies for pests. Organic Oils (such as Eco-Oil or Eco-Neem) or one of the natural sprays such as Yates ‘Nature’s Way Natrasoap Pest Spray’ can be used to control bad infestations – don’t use strong, toxic insecticides.

For more information on rose growing, visit the Rose Society

To contact Knight’s Roses  – phone +61 8 85231311 or visit our website.

Contact Knight’s Roses for more information : 1300 1 ROSES or (08) 8523 1311

Pests and Diseases

Given our hot, dry, low-humidity summers, most fungal issues disappear and pests such as Aphids and grubs also “back off”. Spider Mite may be an issue and when present, lower leaves close to the ground may be pale in colour. Remove a leaf, turn it over and watch carefully (a magnifying glass may help). If insects, the size of pepper, start moving around and/or a fine web is evident, Spider Mite are present. Water sprayed upward from under the leaves can assist with the removal of early infections as Spider Mites don’t like to be wet.

There are now many natural remedies for pests. Organic Oils (such as Eco-Oil or Eco-Neem) or one of the natural sprays such as Yates ‘Nature’s Way Natrasoap Pest Spray’ can be used to control bad infestations – don’t use strong, toxic insecticides.

For more information on rose growing, visit the Rose Society

To contact Knight’s Roses  – phone +61 8 85231311 or visit our website.

Contact Knight’s Roses for more information : 1300 1 ROSES or (08) 8523 1311

Spring is in the air –  it’s time to get out into the garden. Your tasks are detailed in our ‘Rose growing notes’. Whether your garden is new or old, we all know there are still jobs to do.

Let’s celebrate spring – the season of renewal!

Buy roses online from Knight’s Roses – we now have potted roses for sale from our extensive collection with delivery Australia-wide.

Some varieties available to order include:

A Best Impression, Bees’ Paradise Pink, Aussie Magic, Winx, Dolly’s Rose, Fairy Godmother

To order roses either contact our office by phone (08) 8523 1311, email retailsales@knightsroses.com.au or visit our website https://knightsroses.com.au

and order them online.

Compost is an easy way to recycle organic waste from your kitchen and garden and add nutrient rich humus to your garden beds. It promotes plant growth, helps depleted soil, reduces landfill and is simple to make.

Compost has 4 ingredients: nitrogen, carbon, oxygen and water.  The secret to a healthy rich compost pile is to maintain a balance between carbon and nitrogen matter.

Carbon rich material includes dried leaves, peels, clean sawdust, coffee grounds and straw. Nitrogen, or protein rich materials, include green leaves, fruit and veggie scraps, crushed eggshells, green lawn clippings (used in thin layers) and kitchen waste.

Use about 1/3green material to 2/3 brown materials. Its best to avoid using citrus and onions in the compost as worms don’t like these! Avoid fish, meat, dairy, bone scraps or bread as these will attract rodents and pests. Also avoid composting perennial weeds (due to seeds).

Keep the composts lightly moist. It is important to have earthworms and microbes in your compost. A great way to increase the number of microbes is to apply Neutrog’s GOGO Juice or Seamungus Liquid, mixed in a watering can, and poured over the compost.

Set up your compost container on bare ground. It will allow worms and organisms to aerate the material. There are many compost container designs from a no-turn standard digester to a tumbler which rotates speeding up the process.

After about 4 to 6 months your compost will be ready.

Time to Mulch

It is recommended that you top up your mulch now, rather than wait for the hot weather to set in. Currently most soils are still moist and mulching will keep that moisture in the soil.

A generous layer of mulch will help conserve water and prevent the soil and plants drying out rapidly, it cools the surface, breaks down to feed the root zone, enables good microbial activity in the soil and also helps to smother weeds.

Neutrog’s ‘Whoflungdung’ is an excellent mulch recommended by the Rose Society. It’s a certified organic mulch which is biologically activated, nutrient rich and weed free. It comes in 20kg compressed bales and can be easily spread. Spread a layer about 5cm in depth and water in to reduce odour and settle it down.

Removing Spent Flowers

To encourage repeat flowering, remove dead blooms. Generally, remove the old bloom and a portion of stem down to the second five-leaflet leaf. Occasionally, some ‘blind’ spring shoots stop growing and don’t produce flowers. These can be trimmed to encourage a new flowering shoot.  A non-performing rose bush is assign that it is lacking fertiliser or may be diseased.

Pests and Diseases

Unfortunately, pests and diseases can frustrate rose growers who want clean, healthy bushes. There are now many natural remedies for pests. These include the presence of predatory wasps to control aphids and bacterial laden sprays such as ‘Success’ or ‘Dipel’ to control both bad insects and grubs. Some initial outbreaks of aphids can be severe and these should be washed off or sprayed with a natural product, such as Yates ‘Nature’s Way Natrasoap Pest Spray’. Pest Oils can also be used to control insects and will also assist in fungal treatment.

Fungal issues, if left untreated, can severely impede the performance of rose plants. Prevention is better than a cure and applications of preventative fungal sprays a fortnight apart in early spring will certainly stop major outbreaks of Mildew and Black Spot. Natural oil sprays, such as Eco Oil, and milk spray (1-part full cream milk to10 parts water) are good “gentle on the environment”, preventative sprays. Mancozeb or Triforine sprays offer chemical treatments which have proven very effective. If a major outbreak occurs, regular fungal spray treatments will be necessary to get these diseases under control.

For more information on rose growing, visit sarose.org.au  

You are invited to attend our special Open Days to celebrate Knight’s Roses’ 60 years of operation! Visit the home of Knight’s Roses at 44 Jack Cooper Drive, Evanston (near Gawler) on Saturday, 17th June and Saturday, 29th July from 10am to 2pm. Buy top quality roses, get expert rose growing advice from the Rose Society of South Australia, and see the FELCO stand for your precision gardening tools.

The Roseworthy CFS will also be in attendance, and Knight’s Roses will be donating 100% of all the sales of the Firestar Rose on the day to the CFS Foundation!

Knight’s are one of the largest rose producers in Australia offering a comprehensive range of climbers, standards and bush roses, in fact hundreds of rose varieties available. Whether you are starting a new rose garden or renovating an old one – you are sure to find some perfect roses.

Choose from our extensive collection of top-quality roses, bare rooted bagged roses and potted roses available, including many popular varieties and new releases. Visit our website www.knightsroses.com.au or phone 1300 1ROSES or (08) 8523 1311. Place your order now for delivery Australia-wide from June to August, 2023.

Free Rose Pruning Demonstrations are being run by experienced rose pruners from the Rose Society of South Australia. These are “hands on” workshops so bring your gloves and secateurs and train with the help of experts.

CARRICK HILL – 46 Carrick Hill Drive, Springfield, Sunday 18th June from 1:30pm to 3pm.

ADELAIDE – International Rose Garden, Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Sunday, 25th June from 12:30pm to 3pm. Free parking is available along Hackney Road.

EVANSTON (Gawler) – ‘Roses in the Heartland’ Rose Society Branch on Sunday 9th July from 1pm to 3pm at 3 Para Rd, Evanston. Enquiries: http://sarose.org.au

July is the month when most roses are pruned. There are a few exceptions, including certain old-fashioned roses and some weeping standards, which should be pruned after they flower in spring.

For all other roses, mid-winter is the best time to remove dead, old diseased wood, shorten healthy canes to promote vigorous new growth and train your roses to be a manageable size and shape and encourage flowering. It’s Important to rejuvenate the plant ready for spring growth. An annual cut-back ensure an attractive and productive plant, year after year. However, trying to resuscitate an older plant that has been neglected or a poor performer for many years is a loosing game – best to remove it and replace it.

Pruning is not difficult with the right equipment, You need good bi-pass secateurs like Felco, good loppers and a pruning saw. Wear all leather gloves, preferable gauntlets. A pruning saw is ideal for cuts over 2.5cm and removing old canes. Make sure your tools are sharp.

Felco’s instructions for sharpening, lubricating and adjusting blades are on their website https://felco.com/en_au/services/maintenance

When you prune a bush rose, don’t bother looking at the top – this will be removed. Focus on the bottom half of the plant. Ideally, you want to retain strong, healthy, young canes and remove all dead and damaged wood and twiggy growth. If sufficient new canes have grown from the base (water shoots), then you can remove old canes by sawing them off flush at the base. Look at the bottom of the plant and remove any ‘suckers’ those shoots coming from below the bud union.

Also remove canes crossing over into the centre of the plant. Ultimately, you want the rose bush to resemble a cup shape, free of growth in the middle to allow air to circulate and light to penetrate.

To celebrate Knight’s Roses 60 years of operation, you are invited to join in the celebrations and attend our Rose and Garden Open Days!

More information about these exciting events will follow but for now SAVE THE DATE:

Saturday 6th May

Saturday 17th June

Saturday 29th July

As Australian Agents for world-famous rose breeders – Harkness of England, Rosen Tantau of Germany, Guillot Rosa Generosa of France and James Cocker and Sons of Scotland – we are very proud to introduce exceptional new release roses each year onto the Australian market. Remarkably, the demand for top quality roses just keeps on growing!

Shop online and pre-order now to avoid disappointment. Visit our website www.knightsroses.com.au or phone 1300 1ROSES or (08) 8523 1311.

We hope that you enjoy our Autumn Newsletter and thank you for your support. As usual, if there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Daniel Knight

Roses are a favourite choice for the garden because they are easy to grow and maintenance is relatively simple. The frequent balmy days, particularly later in autumn, are ideal for producing a magnificent autumn flush of high quality, colourful flowers. Here are a few tips to care for your roses.

1. Watering

It is essential to maintain a regular and thorough watering regime. We can be easily misled by milder days and cooler nights. However, the average March and April rainfalls are generally insufficient to maintain healthy Autumn growth in our roses. Like summer, it is best to look at the forward weather forecast for the next 7 days. If the weather forecast is for warm to hot and dry conditions, hydrating roses with a weekly thorough irrigation is recommended. If rain accompanied by lower-than-average temperatures occurs, irrigation may be halted for a period and recommenced when a dry, warm to hot period is forecast.

Generally, irrigation is needed until the opening seasonal rains occur late April – early May. If unsure whether watering is required, scratch down 3 to 5cm below the ground under a rose plant. If dry at this depth, apply water immediately. Remember, the rose has many roots just below the surface and these can dry out, hindering optimum performance.

Roses in pots also require regular watering during the autumn months.

2. Mulch

The mulch which was applied late spring or early summer will be breaking down in autumn and its thickness reducing. Providing sufficient mulch was initially applied, adequate cover will remain to reduce evaporation, continue to cool the roots and feed the earth worms and beneficial microbes in the soil during autumn. However, if all mulch has disappeared, a fresh application of Neutrog’s Whoflungdung (a certified organic mulch) in early autumn is recommended. This mulch is biologically activated, nutrient rich and weed free. It comes in convenient 20kg compressed bales and can be taken to and easily spread where it’s needed.

3. Flowering

Autumn is an excellent flowering period for roses. A light, late summer or early autumn trim will ensure a great flush of flowers around 55 days later. This trim is simply removing the spent summer blooms and a portion of the stem down to a healthy pin-head sized bud nestled between the leaf and stem. Stem removed is generally around 15 – 30cm. Importantly, this is a trim and not a prune and sufficient foliage must remain to avoid exposing the stems to sunburn.

The summer – autumn trim is far more effective if it is completed two or three weeks after an application of Neutrog Sudden Impact for Roses. Don’t be concerned if autumn colours are different to spring colours of the same variety. The on-set of cooler nights and less sunlight through autumn often produces more intense colours in some varieties.

The next newsletter reminds us to “brush up” on our rose pruning skills. Come along to the free Rose Pruning Demonstrations being run by experienced rose pruners from the Rose Society of SA. These are “hands-on” workshops so bring your gloves and secateurs and practice with the help of experts.

The first rose pruning demonstration will be Sunday, 18 June, from 1.30pm to approx. 3pm at Carrick Hill. Opportunity to also enjoy lunch, tea and coffee. The second demonstration will be at the International Rose Garden, Adelaide Botanic Garden on Sunday, 25 June at 12.30pm to approx. 3pm. This workshop will cover pruning all types of roses, including climbers, arches, standards and bush roses.

The third will be a pruning demonstration held by Roses In the Heartland group scheduled for Sunday 9th July, 1pm to 3pm at 3 Para Road, Evanston Gardens (Gawler) with refreshments available and donations supporting SA Cancer Council. Enquiries: https://sarose.org.au

On behalf of the team at Knight’s Roses, I sincerely thank all of our customers, wholesale and retail, for their continued support and wish everyone an enjoyable Christmas season and a Happy New Year.

Daniel Knight

Having a love affair with roses usually means anxiously awaiting the wonderful new releases at the beginning of the winter season. With a palette of colours and new improved disease resistance, rose growing has never been easier!
Shop online and pre-order your favourite roses now to avoid disappointment. Visit our website https://knightsroses.com.au or phone 1300 1ROSES or (08) 8523 1311.

Here is a preview of just two of our new roses coming in 2023!

• Significantly reducing evaporation from the soil, saving up to 40% to 50% of the irrigation otherwise required.
• Cooling and maintaining moisture levels around surface roots (those in the top 10cm of the soil).
• Feeding the plant and enriching the good microbial activity in the soil.

Just a reminder to email your rose questions to: retailsales@knightsroses.com.au

Contact Knight’s Roses for more information – phone +61 8 85231311 or visit our website www.knightsroses.com.au

Jump into spring – sunny days are here and it’s time to get moving and give some attention to our gardens. Your immediate tasks are detailed in our rose growing notes. Also consider rejuvenating your rose garden with a few new top performing roses. Let’s celebrate spring – the season of renewal!

Buy potted roses online from Knight’s Roses – we have hundreds of roses for sale from our extensive collection with delivery Australia wide. Potted Roses will be available to order from 19th of September, and will be shipped from mid-October.

Visit our new website at www.knightsroses.com.au or phone 1300 1ROSES or (08) 8523 1311

Top Row: Best Friend and Elodie Gossuin

Bottom Row: Unconditional Love and Olde Fragrance

Growing roses is an easy and enjoyable activity for the home gardener. Most homes have an informal garden with shrubs, annuals and perennials in borders around a lawn. Roses can contribute significantly to these gardens providing continuous colour, shape, texture and fragrance. Given the wide range of roses available, there is sure to be a rose to fulfil just about any landscaping situation. Ideally, all the elements should combine to provide a pleasing balance.

A harmonious mixed border can be achieved by planting groups of perennials, annuals and small shrubs between your roses. Climbing roses are suitable to make a backdrop against a wall, fence or trellis. Adding some standard roses will add height to the border or in another group plant some tall Hybrid Tea Roses towards the back and in the front plant some compact Floribundas or Miniature roses, or both. As an alternative to Floribundas, try hardy shrub roses. One other consideration is colour harmony. Some great combinations are shades of pink roses planted with perennials and tall bearded iris in blues and mauves. Photo shows ‘Mary Rose’ with Tall Bearded Iris ‘Blue Sapphire’.

Yellow, cream and white roses will blend softly with grey-green foliage.  Silvery foliage plants include ‘Miss Willmot’s Ghost’ Eryngium giganteum, Artemisia (wormwood) and silver ragwort. Carefully selected edging plants provide a neat finish to a border, such as lemon or variegated thyme, species geraniums (cranesbills) and heuchera.

Combining white roses such as ‘Iceberg’ with blue and dark purple perennials achieves a cooler, subtler effect – try Delphiniums, Salvia, Iris, Love-In-A-Mist and Cornflower for lovely blue hues. Importantly, choose companion plants that like the same sunlight and moisture conditions and ensure they are not going to crowd your roses or take over the area.

It’s recommended not to plant violets under your roses as they are particularly susceptible to spider mite, and you don’t want them on your roses.

It’s time to feed all your roses with an organic-based fertiliser. Fertiliser is best applied twice a year, in early September and February. Four times per year in sandy soils. We recommend Neutrog ‘Sudden Impact for Roses’ be applied when the young shoots are around 2cms in length. Application prior to forecast rain is helpful, as this will take the fertiliser with it to the root zone as it soaks in. Otherwise, water the pellets in after application. Sudden Impact for Roses in its pelletised form will break down over next 2 to 3 months and, slowly but continuously, feed the plants.

It is important to note that the higher Potassium and other trace elements in Sudden Impact for Roses is designed to increase resistance to fungal diseases and improve flowering.  If plants are not performing well, supplementary applications of Neutrog Seamungus and GoGo Juice should boost the plant back into strong growth.

Watering
Water your rose bushes deeply.  Generally, watering will not be required until October. The exceptions are newly planted and potted roses which may require regular watering commencing September. These should not be allowed to “dry out”.
Irrigation systems should be checked in early September to ensure they are working effectively and fix any leaks or problems.
Young, newly planted roses will benefit from alternate, fortnightly applications of Liquid Seamungus and GoGo Juice as part of their watering regime.

Time to Mulch
It is recommended that you top up your mulch now, rather than wait for the hot weather to set in. Currently most soils are still moist and mulching will keep that moisture in the soil.
A generous layer of mulch will help conserve water and prevent the soil and plants drying out rapidly, it cools the surface, breaks down to feed the root zone, enables good microbial activity in the soil and also helps to smother weeds.
Neutrog’s ‘Whoflungdung’ is an excellent mulch recommended by the Rose Society. It’s a certified organic mulch which is biologically activated, nutrient rich and weed free. It comes in 20kg compressed bales and can be easily spread. Spread a layer about 5cm in depth and water in to reduce odour and to settle it down.

Removing Spent Flowers
To encourage repeat flowering, remove dead blooms. Generally, remove the old bloom and a portion of stem down to the second five-leaflet leaf. Occasionally, some ‘blind’ spring shoots stop growing and don’t produce flowers. These can be trimmed to encourage a new flowering shoot.  A non-performing rose bush is a sign that it is lacking fertiliser or may be diseased.

Pests and Diseases
Unfortunately, pests and diseases can frustrate rose growers who want clean, healthy bushes. There are now many natural remedies for pests. These include the presence of predatory wasps to control aphids and bacterial laden sprays such as ‘Success’ or ‘Dipel’ to control both bad insects and grubs. Some initial outbreaks of aphids can be severe and these should be washed off or sprayed with a natural product, such as Yates ‘Nature’s Way Natrasoap Pest Spray’. Pest Oils can also be used to control insects and will also assist in fungal treatment.

Fungal issues, if left untreated, can severely impede the performance of rose plants. Prevention is better than a cure and applications of preventative fungal sprays a fortnight apart in early spring will certainly stop major outbreaks of Mildew and Black Spot. Natural oil sprays, such as Eco Oil, and milk spray (1-part full cream milk to 10 parts water) are good “gentle on the environment”, preventative sprays. Mancozeb or Triforine sprays offer chemical treatments which have proven very effective. If a major outbreak occurs, regular fungal spray treatments will be necessary to get these diseases under control.
For more information on roses, visit sarose.org.au  

Come and visit Knight’s Roses at Adelaide’s sensational new garden event. The Adelaide International Rose and Garden Expo will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre, to coincide with the World Rose Convention. The Expo will run over the weekend of Friday 28th October (4pm – 9pm), Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th (9am – 5pm). It will showcase the National Rose Show, Trade booths and spectacular floral displays featuring over 10,000 roses.  There will be a daily “speaker’s program” featuring celebrities and garden experts and free children’s activities on Saturday and Sunday (10am – 5pm) run by Nature Play SA.

We hope to see you at this exciting new event.  Tickets $20 per person, with children under 14 free, on sale now through Eventbrite.  For more details visit the Convention website www.wrc22.aomevents.com.au

Knight’s Roses is proud to announce it’s long awaited, new look website, is now up and running!. Visit the website here.

See what is new, explore the catalogue and read up on rose care and so much more!

Pre-order your bagged roses now for winter delivery!

Striped roses make an excellent feature plant in the garden with their splashes of colour, streaks and stripes. No two blooms are exactly alike. Plant three to create a great, bold massed display.

Beautiful and mildly fragrant, this eye-catching Hybrid Tea rose has large, classic, spiralled blooms of cherry red and white. As the bloom ages, some of the stripes evolve into pale cream with the vibrant stripes turning a deeper pink. The flowers are produced in clusters and will repeat all season until late autumn. The compact bush grows to 80cm in height and 120cm wide with healthy, matte green foliage and good disease resistance.
This Hybrid Tea rose makes a lasting impression.

Crown Jewels is a beautiful, very fragrant Hybrid Tea reflecting the shape and style of a bygone era. The full, large blooms have a nostalgic old-world charm, borne singly and also in clusters of up to five flowers per stem. The creamy yellow colour is at its best from early summer and into autumn. The free branching bush has frequent new shoots and great growth. A hardy, vigorous plant with glossy healthy foliage growing to 1.5m tall x 1.2m wide.
Crown Jewels is a sport of ‘Augusta Luise’® and creates a great display when planted in a group and paired with ‘Augusta Luise’®.

This highly fragrant, award-winning climbing Hybrid Tea rose produces a large number of classic high pointed blooms (17-25 petals) in a soft pink colour, repeating well throughout the season. It was awarded “Most Fragrant Rose of the Trial’ in the 2018 National Rose Trial Garden of Australia Awards. A climbing sport of the ever popular ‘Avon’, this rose grows over 2 metres tall and is ideal to train onto a trellis or pillar.

Roses are a favourite choice for the garden because they are easy to grow and maintenance is relatively simple. The balmy days, particularly later in autumn, are ideal for producing a magnificent autumn flush of high quality, colourful flowers. Here are a few tips to care for your roses.

Watering
For most of us, it has been a very dry season. Therefore, we must ensure our roses are still well irrigated. While we can reduce the frequency of water applications as day time maximums and evening minimum temperatures reduce, ensure your soil around the roses remains moist. Remember, next spring’s first season’s flush of blooms is being shaped within the rose buds forming on your plant now. These are the little 1mm buds being formed at the junction of leaves and stems.
The average March and April rainfalls are generally insufficient to maintain healthy autumn growth. Like summer, it is best to look at the forward weather forecast for the next 7 days. If the weather forecast is for warm to hot and dry conditions, watering roses with a weekly irrigation is recommended. If rain accompanied by lower-than-average temperatures occurs, irrigation may be halted for a period and recommenced when a dry, warm to hot period is forecast.
Generally, irrigation is needed up until the opening seasonal rains in late April – early May. If unsure whether watering is required, scratch down 3 to 5cm below the ground under a rose plant. If dry at this depth, apply water immediately.  Remember, the rose has many roots just below the surface and these can dry out.
Roses in pots also require regular watering during the autumn months.

Mulch
The mulch which was applied in spring or early summer will be breaking down in autumn and its thickness reducing. Providing sufficient mulch was initially applied, adequate cover will remain to reduce evaporation, cool the roots and feed the earth worms and beneficial microbes in the soil during autumn. However, if all mulch has disappeared, a fresh application of Neutrog’s Whoflungdung (a certified organic mulch) in early autumn is recommended. This mulch is biologically activated, nutrient rich and weed free. It comes in compressed bales and can be taken to and easily spread where it’s needed.

Flowering
Autumn roses are usually known for their excellent quality. A light, early autumn trim will ensure a great flush of flowers around 55 days later. This trim is simply removing the spent summer blooms and a portion of the stem down to a healthy pin-head sized bud nestled between the leaf and stem. Stem removed is generally around 15 – 30cm. Importantly, this is a “trim” and not a “prune” and sufficient foliage must remain to avoid exposing the stems to sunburn.
The summer – autumn trim is far more effective if it is completed two or three weeks after an application of Neutrog Sudden Impact for Roses. Don’t be concerned if autumn colours are different to spring colours of the same variety. The on-set of cooler nights and less sunlight through autumn often produces more intense colours in some cultivars.

Fertilising
If an application of fertiliser, such as Neutrog’s Sudden Impact for Roses, was not applied in February, ensure the rose plants receive it in March. Once applied, it should be “watered in”. If possible, apply just before forecast rain, which will assist in ensuring the fertiliser is taken to the root zone. If you can’t rely on rain or a sprinkler system, use Sudden Impact for Roses Liquid Fertiliser applied in fortnightly applications until the end of March. Neutrog Go-Go Juice will certainly provide an additional boost to plants after enduring a long hot dry summer and also “boost” any under-performing plants.

Pests and Diseases
Our autumn seasons are generally warm to hot and dry until the end of April and these are favourable conditions for rose growing. As far as pests and fungal diseases are concerned, usually no preventative or curative remedies are required.  With the change in season to wetter weather, cooler nights and even heavy dews, in late April or early May, some fungal diseases may emerge.  You can choose to do nothing and tolerate some infected foliage or apply a preventative organic oil or fungicide spray mid to late April to ensure plants remain clean well into late autumn and early winter.

New Rose Plantings
Autumn is the best time to commence soil preparation for new rose garden beds, including the removal of underperforming old plants. Where a rose plant is to be removed, commence the process in April or early May by removing the old plant. Endeavour to dig-up as many of the old rose roots as possible. If you can, take a half a barrow of old soil out and replace with soil from elsewhere in the garden which has not grown roses. To prepare the area, apply an application of 10cm of Neutrog’s Whoflungdung Mulch plus Neutrog Seamungus and Go-Go Juice to the area to be planted with the new rose(s). This should be dug into the ground to at least the depth of the spade or even deeper if possible. If the soil is lumpy from a high clay content, an application of gypsum maybe required.

Repeat the application of Go-Go Juice every few weeks until the end of May. Regularly dig over the soil to reduce weed growth and to encourage the earth worms and beneficial microbes to remain active.

New rose beds should be prepared in the same way, except the removal and replacement of soil is not required.  These should be in full sun and free of root competition from trees or shrubs.

Place your Rose Order early
Autumn is also the best time to pre-order new rose cultivars or some of the all-time great roses currently available. View our extensive catalogue online https://knightsroses.com.au listing many favourites and describing the varieties available. Order early to ensure you don’t miss out on the roses you wish to purchase.

With many years in the planning, the World Federation of Rose Societies 19^th World Rose Convention is coming to Adelaide, from 27 October to 3 November, 2022, at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Registration is now open. The event also includes a Rose & Garden EXPO open to the public.

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM & REGISTRATION BROCHURE at the website
www.wrc22.aomevents.com.au

The need to reconnect with nature, during the Pandemic, has been paramount in many people’s lives borne out by record-breaking, unprecedented sales in Garden Centres and across the entire rose industry with many selling out quickly.

I sincerely thank all our customers, both wholesale and retail, for their continued support.

On behalf of the team at Knight’s Roses, our best wishes for the Christmas season and a Happy New Year.

To start off here are three of our 2022 new rose introductions. More exciting news on 2022 releases a little later.

These new release roses can be ordered now for winter delivery. All bagged rose orders will be dispatched from June 2022 and through the winter season.

Stripped roses make an excellent feature plant in the garden with their splashes of colour, streaks and stripes, no two blooms are exactly alike. Plant at least 3 to create a great, bold massed display.

Beautiful and mildly fragrant, this eye-catching hybrid Tea rose has large, classic, spiraled blooms of cherry red and white. As the bloom ages, some of the stripes evolve into pale cream with the vibrant stripes turning a deeper pink. the flowers are produced in clusters and will repeat all season until late autumn, the compact bush grows to 80 cm in height and 120cm wide with healthy. matte green foliage and good disease resistant.

Crown Jewels is a beautiful, very fragrant Hybrid Tea reflecting the shape and style of a bygone era. The full, large blooms have a nostalgic old-world charm, borne singly and also in clusters of up to five flowers per stem. The creamy yellow colour is at its best from early summer and into autumn. The free branching bush has frequent new shoots and great growth. A hardy, vigorous plant with glossy healthy foliage growing to 1.5m tall x 1.2m wide. Crown Jewels is a sport of ‘August Luise’® and creates a great display when planted and paired with ‘August Luise’®.

This highly fragrant, award-winning climbing Hybrid Tea rose produces a large number of classic high pointed blooms (17-25 petals) in a soft pink colour, repeating well throughout the season. It was awarded “Most Fragrant Rose of the Trial’ in the 2018 National Rose Trial Garden of Australia Awards. A climbing sport of the ever popular ‘Avon’, this rose grows over 2 metres tall and is ideal to train onto a trellis or pillar.

Like humans, roses need to be well hydrated prior to a heatwave. If not, once the damage in the form of leaf and stem burn has occurred, it is very hard to recover.

The critical ingredient to keep roses performing in summer is WATER. A good soak once per week is essential (twice per week in a heatwave). Give each plant 20 to 30 litres, assuming you have used a good mulch. If not, double the amount of water. 

If hot weather is forecast, ensure the rose is well hydrated prior to the heat arriving. It is much harder to revive a collapsed plant after it has deteriorated due to heat stress. 

As mentioned, a top-quality MULCH is important. The Rose Society of South Australia recommends Neutrog’s ‘Whoflungdung’ – a biologically activated, nutrient rich, weed free, absorbent, certified organic, super mulch made here in South Australia. We do have other good mulches (produced by local suppliers such as Garden Grove, Jefferies and Peats) which are also organic and derived from composted green waste – again produced in our State.

Providing your plants are well mulched, well-watered and have been fertilised in spring, roses will continue to give you flowers throughout summer.

Roses in their first year may require supplementary water in addition to that described above as their roots are not fully established and can dry out more quickly.

Roses in pots should be watered ‘on demand’ as their potting soil dries out. This may necessitate watering every second day. Avoid black-coloured pots as these absorb more heat if exposed to sunlight. Clay and cement pots in light colours or wooden tubs are better for roses. 

Apart from watering and mulching, the rose requires little other maintenance in summer as the air is too dry for fungal problems to occur and generally too hot for major insect issues. If these do occur, use organic solutions such as  rather than heavier in-organic sprays.

To maintain healthy plants, one fertiliser application of Neutrog Sudden Impact for Roses after the first flush of flowers is recommended in late December.

Finally, roses need regular light summer trimming to remove spend (old) blooms. To guarantee rapid, repeat flowering it is recommended the spent bloom and part of the stem is cut back to the second five-leaflet leaf. It is sometimes wrongly referred to as summer pruning and the inexperienced grower must resist the temptation to cut back too heavily.

There can be many reasons why roses stop or don’t bloom. This is generally caused by a lack of care or attention. Basically, roses need two ingredients to flourish and bloom. These are regular watering and fertilising. A good soak (irrigation) at least once per week with around 25 litres of water per application and assuming the plants are well mulched to continue growing. They also need a good feed in Spring and Autumn and the Rose Society recommends the use of Neutrog’s ‘Sudden Impact for Roses’, designed to ensure the rose receives the nutrients it needs to grown and bloom well.

Whilst other causes like insect attack or an infestation of fungal disease may also restrict blooming, regular watering and fertilising should ensure a good flush of flowers from spring through to autumn for repeat flowering rose cultivars.

Generally, in South Australia, we don’t get as much ‘Black Spot’ on our roses compared to rose growers interstate. However, occasionally we do get it and if left untreated, it can defoliate the rose bush. Once a leaf is infected, it’s too late – that leaf will die and drop off. The best way to deal with ‘Black Spot’ is to avoid getting it. A couple of sprays with an organic oil such as Eco Oil or Rose Fungicide spray, early in spring, will give the plant added resistance to Black Spot. If the plant is infected, you will need to apply Mancozeb Plus, followed by Rose Fungicide Spray (Triforene) 10 days later to kill and stop the Black Spot breeding cycle.

Conact Knight’s Roses for more information – phone +61 8 85231311 or visit our website www.knightsroses.com.au

Container gardening has never been more popular. Potted roses are a stylish way to introduce colour and fragrance to brighten up your verandah, patio, courtyard, balcony and other garden areas.

With their long flowering season, rounded shrubby growth and fragrance, roses make highly effective containerised plants. They are ideal for placing at entrances or along pathways or on patios, where their gorgeous, often beautifully fragrant flowers can be enjoyed.

Generally, you should consider selecting varieties that have an even growth habit, maintain a regular shape and good repeat flowering throughout the flowering season.

Some good varieties:

Black Caviar                                        FireStar

Per-Fyoom Perfume                        Double Knockout

Seduction                                            Freisia

Gold Bunny                                         Iceberg

Or choose smaller rose varieties such as:

Bees’ Paradise Pink

Dream Chaser

Apricot Clementine

Hot Pink Bonica

Little Wishes

FERTILISING

Fertilise in early spring with Neutrog Sudden Impact for Roses. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. As the soil should be damp from spring rains, try and apply prior to forecast rain, then no “watering-in” will be necessary.

WATERING

It is important to water your roses with one good soak per week as the spring weather becomes drier. Assuming the roses are mulched, the established rose plant requires 20 litres of water in one application per week if the average maximum temperature for the next 7 days is in the range 20 – 30˚C. If the average maximum temperature for the next 7 days is in the range of 30˚ – 40˚C, the rose will require 30 litres of water in one application that week. Roses in their first year may require supplementary water in addition to that described above as their roots are not fully established and the young plants can dry out more quickly than well-established plants.

PESTS AND DISEASES

As rose shoots get to 15cm in length, apply preventative fungicides to avoid bad infestations of black spot, rust and mildew. A couple of sprays, a fortnight apart, mid to late September and early October may be required. Avoid using strong pesticides on Aphids and Grubs, instead try Organic oils such as Eco-Oil or Eco-Neem or one of the natural sprays (such as Natrasoap) to control bad infestations. You can also wash off Aphids with a spray of water.

MULCH

Knight’s Roses recommend Neutrog’s ‘Whoflungdung’ which is a certified organic mulch, biologically activated, nutrient rich and weed free. While it can be applied immediately around the base of mature roses (3 years and older) it is advised not to apply mulch closer than 15cms to new, one or two-year-old plants as sometimes damage can occur to young basal shoots. ‘Whoflungdung’ comes in 20kg compressed bales. Apply water after application to settle the mulch in. Mulch significantly reduces evaporation, saving up to 40% – 50% of the irrigation otherwise required; it cools the root zone and introduces good microbial activity into the soil.

1. Choose a location which receives at least 5  to 6 hours of sunlight each day. The advantage of growing a rose in a container is that you can shift it to ensure it is in the right position for sunlight. Courtyards which are open to full sun every day can get very hot in summer, often 10 degrees Celsius higher than the forecast temperature – it is suggested that some afternoon sun protection is advisable during heatwaves.
2. Ensure the pot can be shifted. This can be achieved by having the pot on a low stand with wheels or to fit a sack truck under it for easy relocation. Mark the side of the pot which faces north and when you relocate it ensure that the pot is placed to face the sun in the same position.
3. Container Size – the bigger the better! But as a general guide miniature roses or patio roses need a minimum 10 litre container, while a bush rose needs 20 – 40 litres – depending on size. Half wine barrels make excellent containers for roses but shifting or repotting roses grown in such a large container can be a challenge. Terracotta clay, concrete or wood containers work well as they do not absorb heat like plastic pots – particularly black plastic pots which should be avoided.
4. Choose the right potting mix. It must be a premium mix with the 5 ticks for Australian Standard certification. It should be free draining but retain moisture. Ask your nursery to ensure you get the correct mixture. Roses should be repotted with new soil, every 3 to 5 years. Winter is the best time to repot your rose plants. Clean pots as disease can spread easily in dirty containers. Add some Neutrog ‘Seamungus’ pellets into the mix.
5. Roses in ports require regular watering, the oil must reamin moist and cannot be allowed to dry out. Water the pot until water is seen to be freely draining through the holes at the base of the pot, then cease watering. The drainage holes cannot be allowed to block up as roses hate ‘wet feet’. If the container is the right size for the rose it will need water 2 to 3 days per week in the summer and maybe daily during heatwaves. Watering can be reduced to 1 to 2 times per week at other times. You can put your finger in the pot to test dampness. If your finger comes out clean the soil is dry.
6. Fertilising is another important element. Feed the roots with a few Neutrog Seamungus pellets and Neutrog Sudden Impact for roses pellets lightly scratched into the top surface. These break down slowly over 4 to 6 weeks constantly feeding the potted plant. They then can be replenished every 6 or so weeks. Sudden Impact for Roses is also available in a liquid form and its organic base provides a full range of nutrients in a slow-release form, while the water-soluble nutrients have been added to maximise performance. 
7. The final point relates to pests and diseases. Potted roses can often get spider mite and to avoid this, thoroughly wet the foliage (both underneath and above) with a strong stream of water every 7 to 10 days. Similarly, aphids can be washed off or rubbed off the foliage. An occasional spray with Eco-oil or pest oil will control fungal problems and help with insect control. 

Q. 1. What causes proliferation in roses (aka vegetative centre) and is it harmful to the plant? How do you prevent it or treat it? Are some varieties more prone to it happening?

Hi Bonita,

No one is really sure what causes vegetative centres. Certain varieties are more prone to it than others and it generally occurs when the rose bush is in a rapid growth phase e.g. the first spring flush. Generally, the rose does not have a repeat occurrence in the same season and the problem does not spread to nearby plants.

Q. 2. Please advise about soil additives to prevent fungus in container roses, so that we can save the plant from black spot and die-back disease.

Hi Sanjay,

From our experience, “die-back” does not occur in well ferterlised, healthy plants with good growth. Die-back can result from sunburn on immature stems or from a grub burrowing into a stem. Black Spot spreads by spores from the Black Spot Fungus (Diplocarpon rosae fungus). These spores can be spread simply from one leaf to another as airborne spores or by a raindrop hitting a spore on the ground which then bounces up onto a leaf. Once a leaf is infected with Black Spot, it will die and drop. Prevention is better than cure and use two applications of preventable fungicides early in spring to protect young susceptible foliage. WE like to use organic preventable fungicides, such as Eco-oil. 

Email your Questions to: retailsales@knightsroses.com.au

Roses respond well to pruning. Pruning is not a difficult task if you use the right equipment and follow a few simple rules. In South Australia, pruning in July is recommended, there are a few exceptions including some old-fashioned roses and weeping standards which can be pruned after flowering in spring.

For all other roses, July is the time to remove dead or diseased branches, shorten healthy canes to promote vigorous new growth, maintain desirable size and shape and encourage better flowering.

Wear old clothes, sturdy footwear, a brimmed hat and preferably eye protection. you need good bi-pass secateurs like Felco or Fiskars, good loppers and a pruning saw. Wear all leather gloves, preferably gauntlets. A pruning saw is ideal for cuts over 2 ½ cm and removing old canes. Make sure your tools are sharp.

Felco’s instructions for sharpening, lubricating and adjusting blades are on their website https://felco.com/en_au/services/maintenance

When you approach the bush, dont bother looking at the top third to half – this will be removed. Focus on the bottom half of the plant. Ideally, you want to retain strong, healthy growth. If sufficient new canes have grown from the base (water shoots), then you can remove the old canes by sawing them off flush at the base. Look at the bottom of the plant and remove any ‘suckers’ those shoots coming from below the bud union. Also remove canes crossing over the centre of the plant. Ultimately, you want rose bush to resemble a cup shape, free of growth in the middle allowing air to circulate.

The outer rim canes should be reduced to one-third to half of their original height and cut to 7mm above an outward facing bud (eye). Remove all leaves. Ideally cut at a 45-degree angle above the bud ‘eye’ where foliage was attached. Within a few weeks the dormant bud eye will begin to swell. In another three weeks the swelling will result in a young new stem.

Climbing roses require slightly different treatment. For climbers or pillars, first look at the base of the plant. If it has performed well, there will be a number of new canes (these are still green with no side shoots) from the base. These will provide the best flowers in the spring. Therefore, do not remove these.

Secondly, move up from the base of the plant, following older canes (left following the previous years’ pruning). Some will have strong new canes emerging partially along the old stem. Others will only have short stems along the cane. These would have produced flowers during the previous year. Determine how many stems you require. As a guide most climbers need at least 12 canes in order to wrap 6 canes onto a trellis on each side of the plant.

For a Pillar Rose, leave approximately 6 to 8 good canes growing from the base, then wrap them onto the pillar, half clockwise and the other half anti-clockwise and tie on.

Remove any remaining old foliage from the stems, fallen leaves and pruning remnants and place into green waste.

Once pruning is finished, a winter dormancy spray should be applied liberally – use pest oil, winter oil or Lime Sulphur. This will kill over-wintering aphids and spider mite eggs and fungal spores which hide in crack and crevasses on the stems and also on the ground under the rose plant. Copper Oxy Chloride spray can also be used; however, it can be detrimental to worms. The Winter Spray regime is important for pest and disease control and will ensure significantly reduced problems in spring.

Roses are not actively growing in winter and do not require feeding. However, roses benefit from an application of Neutrog ‘Seamungus‘. This is a soil and plant conditioner, manufactured from seaweed, fish, humid acid and manure. It stimulates the roots into strong healthy growth in late winter and early spring. Pelletised Seamungus is recommended, as pellets will breakdown with rainfall enhancing root growth and should be applied prior to mulching. 

After old fallen leaves and cuttings have been removed, an application of mulch is recommended. Generally, late winter and before the roses begin to produce shoots which can be accidentally broken off by spreading mulch.

Knight’s Roses recommend an application of 5cm of Neutrog’s ‘Whoflungdung‘. While it can be applied immediately around the base of mature roses (3 year and older) it is advised not to apply mulch closer than 15cms to new, one or two-year-old plants as sometimes damage can occur to young basal shoots.

‘Whoflungdung‘ comes in 20kg compressed bales. Apply water after application to settle the mulch in. Mulch significantly reduces evaporation from the surface (spring to autumn), saving up to 40% – 50% of the irrigation otherwise required; it cools the root zone and introduces good microbial activity into the soil.

The Rose Society of SA will be conduction two rose pruning demonstrations this winter.

1. The International Rose Garden, Adelaide Botanic Gardens on Sunday, 20 June from 12.30 – 3.30pm. It will be led by Rose Society members and participants are encouraged to bring their pruning gear so that they can practice pruning under the supervision of rose pruning experts. General rose growing advise will also be available.
2. Roses in the Heartland RSSA Branch will be holding  their annual Rose Pruning Demonstration on Sunday, 11th July from 1pm – 3pm at 3 Para Road, Evanston (Gawler). Attendees can practice pruning under supervision.

For more information visit the Rose Society of South Australia website http://sarose.org.au

Q. 1. Melissa asked, “Would a climbing/rambling rose be suitable to cover a chicken coop in my yard which has little access to prune it.”

Hi Melissa, great question. Some of the old climbers or ramblers would be suitable. While you don’t have to prune them every year, it is recommended to give them a good prune every 4 – 6 years by removing very woody sections. While this seems severe, they do recover quickly. Roses such as ‘Rosa banksiae lutea‘ or ‘Lamarque‘ or ‘Climbing Pinkie‘ are possible options.

Q. 2. Janet and Sanjay asked, “I would like information on water shoots”.

Hi Janet and Sanjay, you have both asked questions about “water” or “basal shoots”. These are produced from the “bud” or “graft” union at the base of the plant providing the plant is healthy. These shoots are very important as they create the future structure of the plant and the best source of future flowering. When young, they many need a stake to protect them as they can be easily broken off by wind. Once they have flowered, these water shoots strengthen and can be trimmed or pruned. If your plant does not produce them, we suggest removing some older wood from the plant when pruning, following by applications of ‘Seamungus‘ after pruning and ‘Sudden Impact for Roses‘ in spring.

Contact Knight’s Roses for more information – phone +61 8 8523 1311 or visit our website www.knightsroses.com.au