Kalangadoo, 12th of September 2026

Watering - Mulching - Fertilising

Spring is the most exciting time of the year.  

The garden awakens; the days are longer and bright blue skies incite us back outside.  

Rose lovers are watching their brand-new plants starting to leaf and bud, waiting for the blooms to open to show us a new rose to enjoy. 

Watering, Mulching and Fertilising are very important in this first stages, and here are our tips and tricks to do them in the best way. 

Watering Your Roses

Deep watering is essential for beautiful roses. 

Give your roses 20L of water 2-3 times a week for young plants (older roses need 50L once a week). 

The roots of a rose plant spread very deeply and widely, so remember to water all the area around the plant as well. Roses can develop a very big root system—at least 2 meters long—and spread widely and deeply under the base of the plant. 

In the event of extreme heat, water deeply 1 or 2 days in advance.

A good way to check if you are watering enough, is to dig a hole about a spade's depth nearby the rose the day after you watered it, and check if the soil has moisture or is still dry.

Watch Brian's tutorial video here.

Have You Mulched Your Roses?

For newly prepared beds, mulch helps retain moisture levels, especially during warm, windy days. It can also minimise damage from frosts by creating a thermal layer between the soil and the plant.

Mulches come in various forms, but we suggest using a dark-coloured mulch, like bean or lucerne, or a bark-based organic mulch, all of which have a coarse characteristic. 

Finer mulches, such as sawdust or woodchips, can have a drying effect and are often detrimental to the plants. Additionally, lightly colored mulches, like sugar cane, can reflect too much heat onto your rose, potentially burning the plant. 

Allow at least 20-30 cm of space around the base of each plant to ensure the mulch will not burn or overheat your roses during extreme heat.   

A solid soaking prior to applying the mulch will ensure that the plants have had plenty of water.   

Spring is the perfect time for mulching your roses.

Watch Brian's tutorial video here.

The Right Time to Fertilise

Fertilising is beneficial to the health of your rose and soil. Once your new bare root rose has grown a canopy of leaves, it is mature enough to accept fertiliser. 

Brian recommends fertilising a little but often. 

Spread a little bit of fertiliser in the garden bed once a month. Vary the type of fertiliser to give the rose a 'varied diet'; this can include organic fertilisers such as Blood and Bone, Dynamic Lifter, Sudden Impact, or chemical-based fertilisers such as Black Marvel, fish-based Seamungus, and aged manure.   

Always water well after each application.

Enjoy your healthy roses that will thank you with many blooms!

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