February is here and Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. This year, instead of giving a dozen red roses, why not surprise your loved one by treating them to a pair of tickets to Gardening Scotland?
What could be more romantic than giving your heart’s desire the opportunity to see the most beautiful floral fair in the country, taking place at the Royal Highland showground at Ingliston from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th June?
Tickets to Scotland’s biggest and most renowned outdoor living show will give the love in your life the opportunity to learn about growing gorgeous flowers for cut displays as well as access to the best seasonal gardening tips, foody delights and maybe even a champagne afternoon tea.
If roses are on your mind as Valentine’s Day approaches, then perhaps you may also appreciate some tips on how to take care of them at this time of year.
While roses may be prominent in February, they do not naturally flower at this time of year. If you are a fan of this full bodied bloom, then winter is the perfect time to order bare-rooted roses to ensure you can get them off to a flying start for summer. There is a huge variety of roses on offer, from floribundas to hybrid tea cultivars, bush varieties and creeping vines. Here’s a few things to keep in mind when caring for them.
• Roses are hungry plants, so make sure you add plenty of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or compost, to the soil before planting.
• Newly-planted roses will need to be kept well-watered when they are trying to establish.
• Add rose fertiliser in March or April, at the start of the growing season, and again in June to repeat-flowering varieties.
• When flowers are ready, cut them regularly to encourage further growth.