Nestled within the walls of a Tasmanian UNESCO world heritage-listed property sits the state’s largest rose collection.
The sprawling 1.5 hectare garden at Woolmers Estate, at Longford in northern Tasmania, is largely maintained by about a dozen volunteers.
Each year they spend thousands of hours weeding, pruning, and mulching around 3,000 rose plants.
With about 350 varieties in the garden, they know a thing or two about one of the most recognisable and romantic flowers, and have some tips on how to care for them.
The Woolmers Estate rose garden features 3,000 rose plants and around 350 varieties. (ABC News: Laurissa Smith)
Where to plant?
Roses love direct sun — at least six hours — but they don’t like the heat.
A modern day floribunda Karnival rose at the Woolmers rose garden. (ABC News: Laurissa Smith)
According to Woolmers head gardener Jane Harrison, the best time to plant them is typically in winter when they’re dormant.
She said it’s one of the reasons why they seemed to do pretty well in Tasmania.
“I think it also helps that they have a rest over winter,” Mrs Harrison said.
“They drop all of their leaves and have a bit of a break.”
The garden relies on volunteers like Jane Harrison to keep it looking good. (ABC News: Laurissa Smith)
Which roses have perfume?
Not all roses are created equal and some are more perfumed than others.
The commercially grown roses purchased from a florist typically don’t have a floral aroma.
They’ve been bred for durability and, as a result, the scent gene has been removed.
There are 62 varieties of roses grown on the property and at least 10 new lines are tested each year. (ABC Rural: Laurissa Smith)
But the modern day roses, like the hybrid teas, floribundas and David Austins, are known for their fragrance.
They can range from spicy and fruity, to light and delicate.
“With the David Austins in particular, he has gone back to heritage roses to bring back some of the qualities that have been lost in recent times, such as perfume and the very full shape of the flower,” Mrs Harrison said.
Fragrant David Austin roses are an English variety. (ABC Rural: Jennifer Nichols)
The Woolmers volunteers rate Mr Lincoln, Abraham Darby and Blue Moon as some of the sweetest smelling blooms.
Best pruning techniques?
Retired farmer, volunteer, and avid gardener Helen Clutterbuck recommends pruning plants in July, but said it could depend on the variety.
“If I concentrate on the hybrid teas, the floribundas and the David Austin roses, the ideal time is late winter when they’re dormant and any new growth emerges,” Ms Clutterbuck said.
Helen Clutterbuck is a retired farmer and volunteer gardener at Woolmers Estate at Longford. (ABC News: Laurissa Smith)
“Take out any weak canes, diseased and dead wood.
“As a general rule of thumb you take each cane back by a third.”
A bee collects pollen from a Rosa fedtschenkoana. (ABC News: Laurissa Smith)
The Woolmers rose pruning guide also suggests deadheading during summer and autumn.
Some of the heritage roses are best pruned just after they finish flowering.
However, Mrs Harrison said it was not the end of the world if you missed pruning in winter.
“After the first flush of flowers you can take off about 20 centimetres,” she said.
“Like a very long vase full of flowers and that will hopefully get them stronger at the ends again.”
Head gardener Jane Harrison says some of the heritage roses are best pruned just after they finish flowering. (ABC Rural: Laurissa Smith)
Keeping the bugs away
Diseases like black spot and powdery mildew typically start emerging on a rose plant when conditions are warm, humid, or wet, and if there’s poor air circulation in the canopy.
Black spot causes leaves to turn yellow and drop off — but the volunteers have a way of dealing with it.
Any leaves with black spots should be removed straight away. (ABC News: Laurissa Smith)
“The black spot is spread by water splash either from rain or sprinklers,” Mrs Harrison said.
“My tip would be if you see any black spot, remove the leaves straight away.
Roses can be deadheaded during summer and autumn. (ABC News: Laurissa Smith)
“The only thing we spray for is powdery mildew and it’s only one [type of] rose that has that.
“I’m treating that with one part milk, nine parts water, a few drops of detergent, spraying that on and it seems to be holding it at bay.”
Prize-winners in long list of favourite flowers
The Woolmers volunteer gardeners have a long list of favourite roses.
They include their prize-winning Grande Amore, Cubana, Leonardo da Vinci, Scouts Honour, Glorious and Moonstone.
There are 62 varieties of roses grown on the property and at least 10 new lines are tested each year.
The garden features award-winning roses such as Glorious and Grande Amore. (Supplied: Jane Harrison / ABC News: Laurissa Smith )
“David Austin varieties have such a wide range of colours,” Ms Clutterbuck said.
“My favourites at the moment are the crimson colours, there’s Darcy Bussell, William Shakespeare, and Munstead Wood.”
The crew said they were always on the lookout for more volunteers and were happy to teach anyone new to gardening a few rose tips and tricks.
The 1.5 hectare rose garden is reliant on volunteers to keep the place thriving. (ABC News: Laurissa Smith)
