Which Part Of Garden Should I Grow China Rose

Roses look magical in summer – don't be put off by their reputation; roses are very easy to grow and are tolerant of most conditions.

TYPES OF ROSES

The classification of roses can get complicated but for a novice it's good to know that there are two types: shrubs and climbers. Shrub or bush roses are shrubs that form a stand-alone plant. They come in a variety of sizes and their flowers appear in different formations, with names such as floribundas, hybrid teas, and the smallest, the patio roses.

Climbing roses will grow up a wall or over an arch, so need some plant support (for example, tied onto trellis or wires) as they aren't self clinging. Ramblers are a type of climber but they have thorns that point backwards allowing them to climb by themselves through trees. They also tend to be more vigorous, but will flower for a shorter time than a climbing rose.

CHOOSE THE BEST

• Decide on a colour palette – go for bold shades like reds, yellows and oranges or softer tones like purples, pinks and whites.

• It's traditional to have all the plants about the same height but you could break with tradition and look for taller roses to place at the back of your plot and smaller ones for the front.

• And look out for roses that have won the Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' – these are reliable plants that are likely to do well.

A rose for all gardens: there's one for just about every plot...

For sunny spots

Rosa 'Roseraie de l'Hay

crocus.co.uk

Rosa 'Roseraie de l'Hay': Strongly scented purple flowers which, if deadheaded, will keep coming throughout summer and into autumn.

For shady spots

Rosa 'Gertrude Jekyll'

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Rosa 'Gertrude Jekyll': Recognised for its particularly wonderful scent, this shrub rose is also a favourite for its lovely pink blooms.

For shady walls

Rosa 'Albéric Barbier

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Rosa 'Albéric Barbier': This is a rambler, so a really vigorous plant that will cover walls in creamy-white flowers in early summer.

For sunny walls

Rosa 'Climbing Etoile de Hollande'

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Rosa 'Climbing Etoile de Hollande': This is a climber straight out of the fairy tale books; it has dark crimson flowers with a magical fragrance.

WHEN TO PLANT ROSES

You should plant bare-root roses in late autumn at leaf fall, and from late winter to early spring, before growth resumes. Avoid planting bare-root roses in the middle of winter when the ground is frozen, advise the RHS.

What is a bare-root plant? These dormant plants are grown in open ground and dug up from fields without soil around its roots. Usually available from November to March, bare-root roses may be wrapped in straw or clingfilm to prevent the roots drying out.

You can plant container-grown roses all year round, provided the ground is neither frozen, nor very dry.

WHERE TO PLANT ROSES

When growing roses, choose a sunny plot as roses like 6-8 hours of sunlight in the summer, and find a spot in your garden where you can enjoy your roses when they're in full bloom but where they won't be too much of an eyesore when the flowers die away. 'Sticks in mud' is how garden writer, Christopher Lloyd, described roses in winter. If possible, make sure they're not the main view from your window. One option is to grow them through a low evergreen hedge – alternatively dot them around the middle or rear of a border.

Rosa 'Princess Ann'

Jacky Parker Photography Getty Images

HOW TO PLANT ROSES

• The right soil

Roses are very tolerant of most types of soil as long as it's free draining and quite rich. Digging in well-rotted compost before planting can help. Once established, the roots will go a long way down into the soil so the plants will withstand dry spells, but in the first couple of years, before those roots are established, keep an eye on the plants in summer to make sure they don't dry out.

Ekely Getty Images

HOW TO GROW ROSES

• Watering roses

Between March and May you should water newly planted roses every two or three days, and established roses once a week, say the horticultural experts at David Austin. Come the peak summer season (June-September) water newly planted roses every other day and continue to water your established roses once a week. From October to February, when the temperature dips, it's unlikely you'll need to water your roses.

• Extra help

Roses are hungry plants and should be fed early in the spring with a specialised or general purpose feed. Also, if you can, add more well-rotted manure around the base at the same time as this will help to keep the soil well drained, damp down weeds and give the plants extra nutrition.

lingqi xie Getty Images

Gabriele Ritz / EyeEm Getty Images

• Blooming longer

Take off any fading or dead flowers throughout summer to keep the plant looking good and to encourage more flowers. Just break off the flower at the flower head. It's best to use your hands to do this.

WHEN TO PRUNE ROSES

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After the plants have been in the ground for a season, it's important to prune. Do this in late winter, after the worst of the cold weather, so aim for February or March depending on where you live. Roses tend to flower on the newest growth so as the plant gets taller you'll end up with flowers across the top and nothing below.

For both shrub and climbing roses, go to about 6-8 inches below where you want the new blooms to be and make a cut above a bud. This will start to grow and then later in the summer will flower. Feed at the same time or just after pruning to fuel the new growth.

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