Plant bare root roses

FOR a rose feature in your garden, choose from hybrid teas, old species roses, floribunda, shrubby old cabbage and moss roses.

These will not look out of place in mixed cottage borders.

Remember roots

When planting bare root roses in winter, choose a frost-free spell when the soil is not frozen.

Roses are quite deep-rooted plants so dig a deep hole roughly twice as wide as the plant’s roots and mix in a generous amount of composted organic matter.

Fight disease

Level headed

SLIP packets of home-saved seeds into

as Christmas cards little gifts for

friends. Add some rose rootgrow to the backfill soil.

This is particularly important when planting into a bed where roses have previously been grown. Rootgrow is said to combat rose sickness, also known as replant disease. Cut off any damaged stems and roots then gently spread out the roots when placing them in the centre of the hole.

Try to ensure the bud union – the point where the cultivated rose has been grafted on to the rootstock, and from where the shoots emerge – is at soil level.

You can judge this quite easily by laying something flat across the top of the hole. A spade handle or bamboo cane work well.

Finishing touch

When the plant is at the right height, back-fill the hole, firming the soil down gently before watering it well.

Water generously until well established and apply a specialist rose fertiliser in spring.