Growing roses - plant, grow and prune roses successfully

Having trouble getting the best out of your roses? With a little care and maintenance, growing roses then pruning, caring and maintaining them is easy.

Keep these pointers in mind when growing roses for the first time, or trying to revive a dying rose garden!

Roses are hardier than you think - There are many myths surrounding growing roses. Sure, the more attention you lavish on them the better they'll behave and the more impressive will be their blooms. But roses are more adaptable, hardy and drought tolerant than many people believe, so growing roses and achieving a healthy rose garden is well within the reach of most gardeners.

Growing roses - position, position, position - Growing roses works best when placed in a location that receives a fair bit of sun. They also like a lot of space around them so they don't have to compete with other plants for sunlight, moisture and nutrients. The larger the variety of rose, the more space you should leave around it.

Prepare the soil for growing roses - Although roses are adaptable in terms of the soil they will grow in, preparing the soil correctly will improve their chances of a long and fruitful life. Before growing roses in your garden, dig some organic matter through the soil several weeks prior and manually break up thick clumps of soil. If the soil is too acidic, add some lime.

The all-important establishment phase - Roses are quite long lived compared to many plants, so it's important to establish them carefully when growing roses from plants or cuttings. Once planted, apply slow-release fertiliser and give the roses occasional long drinks rather than short, sharp waterings. This will encourage the roots to grow deeper, and ensure the plants are able to withstand heat and dry spells.

A little kindness goes a long way - Spread mulch around the base of your roses during the peak growing period, which for most roses is from spring to autumn. A little slow-release fertiliser a couple of times during this period will encourage the roses to bloom and stay healthy. And use pesticides and fungicides as necessary.

Maintain roses through winter - As the weather cools, most roses become dormant. This is the perfect time to prune them. Pruning roses helps regenerate and add vigour to the plant, prevent disease and improve the quality of the blooms. A good general rule is to prune them by half their height and cut half their canes away.

For mulch, fertiliser, plants and good advice on planting and growing roses, find a nursery near you: