Rosa ‘The Generous Gardener’ – Care Guide

Rosa ‘The Generous Gardener’ is a highly acclaimed English rose bred by David Austin, admired for its soft blush-pink blooms, strong old-rose fragrance, and graceful, arching growth. This versatile variety can be grown as a large shrub rose or trained as a short climber, making it perfect for walls, arches, obelisks, and large borders. With excellent disease resistance and a long flowering season, it is ideal for gardeners seeking both beauty and reliability.

Planting & Position

• Light:

  • Prefers full sun for best flowering and perfume.

  • Will tolerate light partial shade, especially when grown as a climber, but with fewer blooms.

• Soil:

  • Thrives in fertile, moist, well-drained soil enriched with compost or well-rotted manure.

  • Avoid waterlogged areas.

  • Suitable for borders, large beds, and trained supports.

• Spacing:

  • As a shrub, space approx. 1.2–1.5 m from neighbouring plants.

  • As a climber, plant 30–45 cm from its support.

• Planting time:

  • Plant container roses year-round.

  • Bareroot roses should be planted November–March.

Care & Maintenance

‘The Generous Gardener’ is easy to maintain with classic rose care.

• Watering:

  • Water deeply and regularly in the first year.

  • Once established, water deeply once a week during dry periods.

  • Avoid wetting foliage in the evening to reduce disease risk.

• Feeding:

  • Feed in early spring with a specialist rose fertiliser.

  • Feed again in mid-summer to encourage repeat flowering.

• Mulching:

  • Mulch in spring with compost or well-rotted manure to retain moisture and improve soil structure.

• Pruning:

  • Shrub form (Feb–March):

    • Remove dead, damaged, or weak stems.

    • Reduce remaining stems by one-third to half.

    • Aim for an open, vase-like shape.

  • Climber form:

    • Tie main stems horizontally to encourage more flowering shoots.

    • Prune side shoots to 2–4 buds in late winter.

    • Remove old, woody stems over time to rejuvenate.

• Deadheading:

  • Remove spent blooms to encourage repeat flowering through summer and early autumn.

• Disease resistance:

  • Good resistance to blackspot and mildew but ensure good air circulation for best results.

Seasonal Interest & Uses

• Flowers:

  • Large, soft blush-pink flowers with a classic, old-fashioned look.

  • Repeat blooms from June to October.

  • Petals form shallow cups that loosen into elegant rosettes.

• Fragrance:

  • Strong, complex perfume combining old rose, musk, and myrrh.

• Habit:

  • As a shrub: 1.2–1.5 m tall, arching and graceful.

  • As a climber: up to 3 m with support.

• Ideal uses:

  • Walls, arches, pergolas, and obelisks

  • Large mixed borders

  • Cottage gardens and romantic planting styles

  • Near seating areas or paths to appreciate the scent

  • Specimen planting or in groups of three for a fuller look

• Wildlife:

  • Flowers attract bees and pollinators.

  • Rose hips may form if spent flowers are not deadheaded.

In Summary:

Rosa ‘The Generous Gardener’ is a beautifully scented, soft pink English rose with an elegant form and superb versatility. Whether trained as a climber or grown as a large shrub, it offers repeat flowering, strong fragrance, and graceful charm. Plant in fertile, well-drained soil, feed well, and prune seasonally for a stunning display from early summer to autumn.

• Size
  6L

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

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Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
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