Caring for David Austin's Cut Garden Roses

ON ARRIVAL Our hand-tied bouquets will arrive with the roses at the open bud stage, with the many petals in the centre visible. Over the next few days they will gradually open up, the colour of the blooms changing with time. When fully open, the roses reveal their glorious many-petalled cupped or rosette forms which distinguish these luxury garden-style roses from other cut roses. The green colouration on the outer petals is a natural characteristic of our beautiful English Roses. These thicker outer petals help to protect the delicately-furled inner petals. The green colour will gradually become hidden as the flower opens out into its full old rose shape. MAXIMISING THE VASE LIFE Our luxury cut garden roses should last at least five days in the home. Here are some tips to help keep them looking beautiful for as long as possible. Good hygiene is the most important way to ensure maximum vase life, but room temperatures will also have a significant influence. 1. Remove the roses from their packaging. Handle the roses carefully, as the many folded petals are relatively soft compared to traditional cut roses and so can be damaged more easily. 2. We recommend that you transfer the flowers to a vase as soon as possible after they arrive. If this is not immediately possible it is very important to open the package, check the water level and top the water up as needed. 3. Make sure the vase is really clean, using bleach if necessary and rinsing well. Cleanliness is a major factor in the life of any cut flowers. Glass, pottery or porcelain containers are ideal. Avoid metal containers which may shorten vase life. 4. Dissolve the flower feed in one litre of lukewarm water according to the instructions. 5. Remove the bottom 2/3cm (1") of the stem, making a slanted cut. Always use a clean, sharp, non-serrated blade or pair of scissors. If you would normally crush the stems, please don't! Instead, make a small 1cm (1/2") cut vertically up the stem. 6. Remove all foliage which will be below the level of the water in the vase. This will otherwise decay and contaminate the water. 7. You'll find that English cut roses can quickly take up water, especially in warm conditions. Keep the water level well topped up. 8. Every second day, rinse the stems clean and change the water. Dissolve half a teaspoon of sugar in a litre of water with a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice and a few drops of bleach to create a home-made flower food. You may like to recut the stems at the same time. 9. The warmer the room, the shorter the vase life. For longest life, place the roses in a cool place, away from draughts, fresh fruit, radiators or direct sunlight. 10. If you would like your roses to open up quickly and perfectly for a special event, place them spaced well apart in plenty of water in a warm, brightly-lit room. Always add flower food to the water. The shorter you cut the stems, the wider the blooms will open. EMERGENCY RESCUE If you discover that you have accidentally let your roses dry out, sadly this is often fatal. Before throwing them on the compost heap, it is worth trying this emergency rescue remedy. Cut the bottom of the stems as described above. Wrap the flower heads in paper, then transfer them to boiling water for a few minutes. Remove the paper and cut the stems again. Transfer the roses to a deep vase of cold water (almost up to their heads) for a few hours.