Rose Garden Rejig Creates Balance

Written By Steven Biggs

Alex Henderson from RBG talks about creating a rose garden with ecological balance.

A Rose Garden Re-Imagined

In this episode we speak with Alex Henderson about the rejuvenated rose garden at Royal Botanical Gardens.

Henderson, Curator of Living Collections, explains that the original rose garden, planted in 1967, was suffering from the combined effects of poor soil health, rose varieties susceptible to disease, and a ban on cosmetic pesticides.

We chat about:

  • Creating more ecological balance by having mixed plantings of roses and flowering perennials

  • Changing from overhead irrigation to drip irrigation

  • Selecting rose varieties with improved genetics

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Steven Biggs

Recognized by Garden Making Magazine as one of the "green gang" of Canadians making a difference in horticulture, Steven Biggs is a horticulturist, former college instructor, and award-winning broadcaster and author. His passion is helping home gardeners grow food in creative and attractive ways.


He’s the author of eight gardening books, including the Canadian bestseller No Guff Vegetable Gardening. His articles have appeared in Canada’s Local Gardener, Mother Earth News, Fine Gardening, Garden Making, Country Guide, Edible Toronto, and other magazines.


Along with over 30 years working in the horticultural sector and a horticultural-science major at the University of Guelph, Steven’s experience includes hands-on projects in his own garden including wicking beds, driveway strawbale gardens, and a rooftop tomato plantation—to the ongoing amusement of neighbours.


When not in the garden, you might catch him recording his award-winning Food Garden Life podcast or canoeing in Algonquin Park.

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