“English rose gardens” bring to mind lush spaces filled with fragrance and color. Roses are one of the most versatile of garden plants, offering an economical way to provide years of beauty and increase the value of your property.
Creating an English-style rose garden is an opportunity to express your personality and maximize the use of your garden spaces. Plant ramblers and high Victorian roses to evoke old English charm in a casual garden setting. Use floribundas and hybrid teas in precise geometric plans to imitate formal English rose gardens.
Determine what kinds of companion plants you'll include in your garden and ensure you have adequate space for them. Select companions for foliage and flower color, fragrance and the benefits that each plant will bring to your roses.
Choose roses that are suited to your climate to limit the amount of maintenance required. Use the Hardiness Zone Map from the USDA (see Resources) to identify how cold your region gets.
Determine how much sunlight your garden receives on average, and choose roses that are suited to those light conditions.