If you want your roses to flower endlessly through summer, the secret isn’t in fancy feeds or garden tricks – it’s as simple as giving them a friend. According to gardening expert Harry Bodell from PriceYourJob.co.uk, planting the right companion next to your roses can significantly boost their blooms, fend off pests, and improve their overall health.
Companion planting isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s a time-tested method to naturally support plant health and growth. When it comes to roses, choosing the right neighbour makes all the difference.
Bodell recommends lavender and marigolds as top choices for rose companions. Not only do these flowers thrive in the same sunny, well-drained conditions as roses, but they also act as natural pest repellents. Lavender’s strong scent deters aphids, while marigolds are excellent at keeping away harmful insects like whitefly and nematodes. These plants also encourage pollinators, which support healthy rose growth and flowering.
By simply planting lavender or marigolds next to your roses, you’re creating a mini ecosystem that works in harmony. Your roses will thank you with continuous blooms right through to autumn.
While companion planting is the one powerful addition, Bodell also shares a few complementary strategies to help roses reach their full blooming potential
Lay down organic mulch like bark chips or compost to keep roots moist, suppress weeds, and protect the soil. A few sheets of newspaper underneath the mulch provide even better weed control and boost sustainability.
Snipping off spent flowers redirects the plant’s energy to producing new blooms instead of seeds. Deadheading every few days encourages a cycle of repeat flowering, especially in mid to late summer.
Roses are hungry and thirsty plants. Regular watering – especially during dry spells – and feeding with a phosphorus-rich fertiliser or banana peel compost will energise your bushes for back-to-back blooms.
Nature is clever. Some plants naturally support others through scent, root interaction, or by attracting helpful insects. By adding just one well-chosen plant beside your roses, you’re introducing a natural line of defence and support, without needing chemical sprays or expensive treatments.
So next time you’re planting or maintaining your rose beds, remember, your roses don’t want to go it alone. Give them a fragrant, vibrant companion and watch as they burst into bloom, week after week.
