David Austin Roses in the UK

The best David Austin Roses for scent include Rose species, starting with Gertrude Jekyll, Harlow Carr and Scepeter'd  Isle, listed below, each with its unique fragrance,
If you would like to 'smell the roses' before buying them online, then pop into Boma Garden Centre in Kentish Town, where you can see and experience the roses up close. 

The Best David Austin Roses for Scent

• GERTRUDE JEKYLL
• HARLOW CARR
• SCEPTER'D ISLE
• PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OF KENT
• DESDEMONA
• THE POET'S WIFE

David Austin Shrub Roses can grow to heights between 3 ft to 5 Ft once you have established them in the garden.
Varieties of roses not available online are available at the garden centre. 

• Medium Shrub 3-4ft (90-125cm)
• Large Shrub 4.5ft (140cm)
• Very Large Shrub 5ft (150cm)

Boma stocks the following David Austin Roses

Typically, rambling roses grow much faster and taller than climbing roses between 8 to 40Ft. Check the height on the David Austin Rose label before buying the plant.

David Austin Climber/Rambler Rose Heights

• Short Climber/Rambler 8-10ft (2.5-3m)
• Medium Climber/Rambler 12-15ft (3.75-4.5m)
• Tall Climber/Rambler 16-20ft (5-6m)
• Very Tall Climber/Rambler 21- 40ft (6-12m)

David Austin Roses range in bloom size between 1" to 5" (2.5 to 12.5cm)

David Austin Bloom Size

• Small 1-2" (2.5-5cm)
• Medium 2-3.5" (5-9cm)
• Large 3.5-5" (9-12.5cm)

David Austin Roses thrive when adding SylvaGrow Organic Farmyard Manure and John Innes No 3 soil-based compost to all types of soil, and will improve roses that you plant in clay-type soil.

Boma garden centre offers David Austin Roses that thrive in planter containers. These varieties have a compact growth habit and a long flowering period.  

The best David Austin Roses for Garden Planters

• DESDEMONA
• HARLOW CARR
• LADY OF SHALOTT
• PRINCESS ANNE
• THE POET'S WIFE

Planting guide for David Austin Roses

Boma stocks David Austin Roses in 6 Litre pot sizes. The following instructions are the best way to plant roses.  

1. First, water the plant thoroughly. Next, use a fork and loosen the soil structure in preparation for digging a hole.
    
2. Then use a garden spade to dig a hole roughly twice the size and depth of the plant's container.
    
3. Next, fill the bottom third of the planting hole with SylvaGrow Organic Farmyard Manure.
   
    
4. Place a small handful of Mycorrhiza fungi in the bottom of the planting hole to aid the plant's root development as the plant establishes.
    
5. Remove your rose from the pot and start to tease the roots out from the root ball.
   
    
6. Place the rose into the planting hole. Make sure the rootstock of the rose is planted slightly lower than it was in its original pot to help prevent the growth of 'Suckers' appearing from the Rose bush's rootstock.
   
   More about Caring for Roses and Suckers
    
7. Once you've established the final planting position, backfill the hole with a mixture of SylvaGrow Multipurpose Compost, Farmyard Manure and John Innes 3 Soil. Be careful to remove large clogs or rubbly from the soil and place them around the rose.
   
    
8. Finally, firm the soil around the base of the rose and water it once finished.
   

You can mulch Roses after planting to keep weeds down. The Boma recommends using a thick mulch of SylvaGrow Organic Farmyard Manure around the rose after planting. Do not mulch roses with composted bark, as this can absorb nutrients from the soil competing with the rose plant.

Roses prefer a more sheltered spot away from strong winds as this can cause damage from wind rock to the rootstock and impede the rose blooms.

If you are planting Roses close to your house or a tall fence, pay attention to watering as the Roses may be within a rain shadow and therefore sheltered from the rain.

If the area you wish to plant the rose has a lot of large plants, they will compete for water and nutrients with your David Austin Rose. Plant the rose shrub 3 feet (1m) from other plants and 2 feet (60cm) apart from other roses To give your rose plant enough space.

The more sun, the better, with 6 hours a day being ideal. However, some shade during the midday heat in a hot summer can be beneficial. David Austin also offers roses suitable for shade as well.

If you have a shady area in your garden, you can still enjoy the gorgeous scent of a David Austin Rose. A top tip to remember is that white flowering roses help to illuminate a dark corner of the garden. Spring is the time to buy Roses for shady spots in the garden.  

Boma Garden Centre stocks the following David Austin Roses for shade.
 

• EUSTACIA VYE

• EMILY BRONTË
• THE COUNTRY PARSON
• SILAS MARNER
• ROALD DAHL
• DAME JUDI DENCH
• PRINCESS ANNE
• OLIVIA ROSE AUSTIN
• SUSAN WILLIAMS-ELLIS