POSITION

• at least a half day of sun
• avoid roots of trees/large shrubs
• avoid rocky soils
• avoid soils that drain poorly
• plant 900mm apart for massed effect
• avoid recently removed rose beds unless soil is changed

PREPARATION

• add well-rotted compost to soil

WATERING – remember to mulch!

• deep and regular
• avoid overhead watering if possible, but if unavoidable water early in the morning so that foliage can dry

FEEDING – always water in well!

• feed in August using a balanced (NPK) fertiliser
• an optional half-strength feed in December
• feed in late February

PRUNING – as simple as you make it!

• remove spent blooms
• winter prune – use secateurs, shears or brush cutter – simply take one third to a half off height, tidy to your desired shape – can be ‘thinned out’ if needed

PLANTING

Bare root (winter dormant) plants

• keep roots wet until ready to plant
• dig hole wider than roots
• create small mound in hole for roots to sit on
• plant so that the kink in the stem (graft) is just above the soil (25mm)
• backfill with soil, adding a slow release fertiliser
• water in well
• trim back half of the stem length (see diagram)

Container plants (any time of year)

• dig hole larger than pot – add slow release fertiliser to base of hole
• remove plant from pot – avoid excessive disturbance to the rootball but if roots are thick around the base, then lightly tease out the lowest roots only
• place into hole and gently backfill with soil
• water in well