Winter is the best time to plant roses and is also the correct time to prune, mulch and spray but they also do just fine when planted in spring.

If you plant your rose bushes right, it will be a lot easier to keep them healthy, strong and full of flowers.

Roses like a lot of sunlight so choose a sunny spot – somewhere that gets at about 5 hours a day is best. Also try to pick a spot sheltered from strong winds.

Next, prepare your soil. Dig it through using a garden fork and remove any weeds. Add plenty of peat, compost or any well-rotted organic material to give the soil a nutrient boost.

Now dig a hole big enough to hold the roots and create a small mound of soil (around 5cm high) in the centre of the hole. Carefully squeeze out your rose bush from its pot and place on top of the mound. Check that where the roots and stem meet is level with the top of the hole – if it isn’t you may need to adjust the size of your mound. Then spread out the roots around the mound.

Fill in the hole, firm the soil and water well.

Add a layer of mulch around the rose bush to help prevent weeds from growing and to help retain water. Just make sure that mulch doesn’t touch the stem of the bush as if it does it can cause it to rot.

Prune roses when they are not in flower. This is generally around June or July although in cooler regions, it may be more like August. Don’t be concerned if you still have a few roses flowering when it is time to prune. A few flowers are an acceptable sacrifice to ensure a good performance next year.

Choose a sunny dry day to prune, as wet weather can encourage the spread of disease.

Always use sharp secateurs to get a clean cut. A clean cut prevents die back and bacterial disease from affecting roses. TOP TIP Dip secateurs in bleach or methylated spirit to reduce the chances of spreading disease.

To prune, first remove any dead or diseased growth and then clear the centre of the plant to allow air movement. Cut branches back by about half and make all cuts on an angle which slopes away from the bud

Roses do not need watering or feeding in winter as they are dormant and not growing but they do require plenty of water in summer. Consider installing an irrigation system to make sure your roses get the regular, deep watering they need

When buds start to burst in early spring start feeding them approximately once a month with a balanced fertiliser specially blended for roses.

Roses do well with cool, moist, rich soils, and do not like competing with weeds for food and water so continue to add a layer of mulch around the stem.

To keep roses pest and disease free many gardeners regularly spray them. Winter is a good time for spraying to catch any over-wintering insect eggs or fungal spores. A copper based spray is a good general clean up spray to apply. Talk to a team member in store for specific advice on different sprays available or alternative options for dealing with pests and disease.