Head Gardener Neil Miller shares his top tips for caring for roses.
For some in the gardening world there’s only one flower that signifies summer – the English rose – and after 20 years of tending the fabulous Rose Garden at Hever Castle I can say: I’m officially obsessed with them!
During the month of June, the Rose Garden is a fantastic place to be, the roses are at their peak of colour; everywhere you look you see vibrant petals, shiny green leaves and you can smell nature’s very own perfumery.
Roses are one of the most rewarding plants you can grow, but there are a few measures you need to take to ensure peak bloomers and it’s not for the faint hearted!
Last year, we worked out that over two decades the team and I have collectively spread enough compost in the Rose Garden to cover Wembley football pitch 10 times over and we have deadheaded an estimated 1 million rose blooms!
Neil’s top tips for rose health
When it comes to blackfly and greenfly we let the birds and aphids do their work at Hever. One week you can have totally clean leaves then the next week you can come in and there are aphids under the leaves, we don’t panic we just watch as the hover-flies, bees, ladybirds and birds do their work; they are fantastic gardeners for us. If you’re eager to clear your roses of the aphids, then take your thumb and forefinger and gently brush the leaves and squash the blighters!
Blackspot is a problem though. This fungus can really ruin the appearance of the roses. We spray every two weeks in order to keep this at bay, early in the morning and on a still weather day.
Ensure that the soil around your roses in is clean and clear of debris as mouldy dropped leaves will encourage the fungus to keep going next season.
Another key to promoting healthy roses is to feed them with a granular slow release food at the start of the season and after the first flush in July. Take your feed and draw a little circle with it around the base of the plant, make sure the feed doesn’t scorch the leaves.
Book your visit to Hever Castle & Gardens.
Within the grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, there are two opportunities for you to stay the night with us.
Hever Castle has played host to many important events and celebrations for over 600 years. In 1903 when William Waldorf Astor set about restoring Hever Castle to its former glory, he added the Astor Wing, to accommodate his family and guests, before creating a lake and the spectacular Italian Garden to house his impressive collection of ancient Greek and Roman statuary.
There are multiple places to eat & drink across the Hever Castle Estate. Select between the Castle & Gardens and Golf Club below to discover more.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, Hever Castle Golf Club is a 27 hole Kent golf course that will encourage and inspire all golf enthusiasts.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, the Wellbeing Centre consists of five smart treatment rooms.
