Rose Carpet

Rose Carpet

What Is A Rose Carpet?

A Rose Carpet is a type of ground cover rose, commonly known as a Flower Carpet rose. It is a low-growing, bushy rose that produces masses of flowers and is easy care. Rose carpets are typically used to create a colourful and fragrant ground cover in gardens or to cover a bank. They can also be grown in pots and hanging baskets.

Some of the characteristics of rose carpets include:

• They typically grow to a height of 30-60 cm and about 1-2 m wide.
• They spread out to form a dense mat of foliage that is great for supressing weeds and protecting delicate soils.
• They produce masses of small and showy, single or double flowers in a variety of colors, including red, pink, yellow, and white. Some varieties will also produce fragrant blooms.
• Carpet Rose are relatively low-maintenance and can tolerate a variety of growing conditions but good drainage is essential.

Rose carpets are a beautiful and versatile addition to any garden. They are a great choice for gardeners who are looking for a low-maintenance, colourful, and fragrant ground cover.

How To Grow A Rose Carpet

Rose carpets are relatively easy to grow. Choose a full sun position with good drainage and moderate shelter for your plants. Ideally, they will be spaced about 1 m apart as a general guide. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A good planting spade makes this job a lot easier. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread rose fertiliser onto the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.

Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the pot. We recommend cutting the container to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. If the roots have been growing in a circle or are all bound up you can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. Similarly, you don’t need to remove any of the growing media. The Plant Company does not recommend cutting the roots, even if the plant is root-bound as this offers no benefit as explained in our article, Managing Rootbound Plants.

Now place the plant in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. If it is sitting above the soil surface, dig more out. If it is below, put in more soil and retest the level. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure from your fingers as you go. Scatter rose fertiliser across the soil surface after planting and the give the plant a good watering. Keep watering the plants regularly during dry weather until they are established.

Rose Carpet Care

Rose carpets are known for their low-maintenance nature, but a little care goes a long way to ensuring healthy plants that flower profusely. Some of the key care requirements are:

• Newly planted plants should be watered regularly to help them establish a strong root system. Once established, water they really only need a good watering during dry periods. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
• Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate the soil temperature.
• Fertilise the plants in spring with rose fertiliser.
• Rose carpets generally require minimal pruning. You can remove spent blooms to encourage more proliferous flowering and prevent the formation of rose hips but this is not essential as it can be time consuming with large plantings.
• The plants can be lightly trimmed at any time during spring and summer to shape the plants and contain the growth. More aggressive pruning can be undertaken during winter where up to 80% of the vegetative material can be removed. Be sure to focus on removing any dead or diseased wood.
• Rose carpets are typically resistant to common rose diseases like black spot and powdery mildew. However, if any become evident, a rose plant fungicide should be applied. This product will also control pests like aphids which can be problematic.
• Be sure to plant in full sun for the most abundant flowering. They can tolerate some shade, but flowering may be reduced.

Rose Carpet Flower Colours

The most common rose carpet flower colours are red, pink, yellow, and white. Some varieties such as the Apple Blossom Carpet Rose is white with pink highlights. The Plant Company has a great selection of carpet roses which are well worth checking out.

Rose Carpet Plant Spacing

The plant spacing for a rose carpet is about 1 m apart. The Plant Company recommends this spacing to ensure it become an effective ground cover. At wider spacings weeds can become a problem and the plants will be slow to fill in. It is important to study the variety being planted to see how big it grows before planting as some varieties will only grow to 70 cm wide. In this instance, the recommended spacing is 60 cm apart.

Rose Carpet Trimming

Rose Carpet plants can be lightly trimmed at any time during spring and summer to shape the plants and contain the growth. More aggressive pruning can be undertaken during winter where up to 80% of the vegetative material can be removed. Be sure to focus on removing any dead or diseased wood at this time. Remember, the goal of trimming is mostly about containing growth and encouraging new growth which will afford a lush and fresh appeal. Flowering performance is also improved with the resultant new growth.