Growing roses: planting, pruning and care

Roses have a reputation for being demanding, but modern varieties are much tougher than older types. Get the basics right and they'll flower for decades.

Choose disease-resistant varieties

Look for varieties described as having good disease resistance; it makes far more difference than any spray. Shrub roses and many English-style roses are a good place to start.

Planting

• Choose a spot with at least 5 to 6 hours of sun.
• Dig a hole twice as wide as the root system.
• Plant with the graft union (the knobbly bit at the base) just below soil level.
• Water well and mulch with compost, keeping it away from the stems.

Watering and feeding

Water deeply once a week in dry weather rather than a little every day. Feed with a rose fertiliser in spring and again after the first flush of flowers.

Deadheading

Snip off faded flowers to encourage more blooms. Stop deadheading in autumn on varieties that produce ornamental hips.

Pruning

Prune in late winter or early spring. Remove dead, damaged and crossing stems first. Then shorten the remaining stems by about a third to an outward-facing bud.

Common problems

Black spot and powdery mildew are the most common issues. Clear fallen leaves, avoid wetting foliage, and give plants space for air to move.