‘But he that dares not grasp the thorn should never crave the rose,’ – Anne Brontë

A ROSE garden is one of the most delightful additions you can make to a garden but as the above line suggests: some planning and hard work is needed. A newly planted rose, in its first season, will bloom with all the promise of a hot sun on a clear day. But you must show it the attention it deserves if it’s to return with vigor the next season.

Roses are not only attractive but are fantastic for fragrance and variety of colour. Most of us at some point in life will a have left a garden centre with a rose in the boot of the car; we planted it with care only to fall out of love with it after one summer. But have you ever thought about preparing a proper rose bed and tending it? If so, rest assured the effort is worth it.

First off, mark out a section that is practical and workable as there’s no point in being too ambitious starting out. All the best national and international gardens have been added to over time, so should yours.

Make sure the spot is sunny with some protection from strong winds. Roses will withstand some wind, but root rock over time can be a menace. Dig away the top sod of grass (not too deeply); dig the bed over and add plenty of compost and extra soil if you want to raise the bed.

Choose the right rose varieties and discover which one is most suited to your aspirations. Most of us just think ‘rose’ without paying much attention to variety. Your garden centre is the ‘go to guy’ here and they will explain if it’s a climber/ rambler, miniature, patio, hybrid, shrub, ground cover, or floribunda rose that best fits your garden.

Once roses are planted, add mulch to the base of the plant to preserve moisture. Roses are also greedy feeders and rely on three main nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Roses will demand the utmost attention and care throughout the season but are by far the best when it comes to rewarding you with colour and fragrance.

Finally, get yourself a rose manual as a good reference book is always handy to have. Pests and diseases will do their utmost to spoil the party so knowing what to do and when to do it is important.