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 Roses
Hybrid Tea Roses
These roses have medium to large sized blooms with many petals forming a distinctive central cone. They are either single blooms or have several side buds. They are available as either bush or standard forms.
Floribunda Roses
These roses flower in clusters with several blooms open at a time. They create a colourful, long-lasting display.
Patio Roses
These are low-growing compact roses. They grow about 50cm high and are excellent for tubs and containers.
Miniature Roses
Excellent for edging beds and borders or for growing in tubs and rockeries. The leaves and flowers are small and generally not more than 15 inches in height.
Ground Cover Roses
These spreading roses are repeat flowering. They are ideal for covering banks or for planting between taller shrubs. Some are low-growing and quite restrained; others may spread widely and grow to a height of 1.5m.
Climbers
These have stiff stems with large repeat flowering blooms. Ideal for covering part of a house, arches, fences, pergolas and old trees.
Ramblers
These have long pliable stems with large trusses of small flowers in summer. The growth is very vigorous.
Shrub Roses
These roses are taller than bedding roses and are related to wild roses and old-fashioned varieties. They have large flowers some with one spectacular showing and others that are repeat flowering.
 Rose Calendar
January
This is the time for pruning and getting your roses into shape. Prune out any dead, diseased or damaged stems, as well as any crossing branches, to leave an open structure.
February
Continue with any pruning not completed in January. The main shoots should be cut to approximately 12 inches high.
March
All pruning should be completed this month. It is also the ideal time for planting. Apply a granular rose fertiliser such as Westland Rose Plant Food from mid-March.
April
Start spraying against pests and diseases with Scotts Rose Clear, this should be repeated every two weeks throughout the season. Cut back any stems that show signs of dying back.
May
Continue spraying against pests and disease. Spread a thick layer of mulch around the base of plants, such as Westland Chipped Bark. This will help to suppress weeds and keep the soil moist.
June
Buds can be cut for a long-lasting indoor display. Plants should be watered thoroughly and regularly during very dry weather. Continue spaying against pests and disease.
July
Deadhead roses regularly, removing fading flowers, cutting back to just above a leaf which faces outwards. Give plants another feed and mulch again to help retain moisture during dry weather. Container grown roses should be watered daily.
August
Continue deadheading and spraying against pests and disease. Plants should be watered thoroughly and regularly during very dry weather.
September
Prune summer-flowering climbers and ramblers to ensure a good display next year. Collect fallen leaves and throw them away rather than composting them to prevent diseases such as black spot spreading to healthy plants. A final feed in early autumn will help to ripen the shoots, so that they are tough enough to get through the winter.
October
Plant container-grown roses before the soil becomes too cold. Mulch that still remains around existing plants can be carefully forked in.
November
Cutback long stems before winter to prevent damage due to wind-rock. Check any plant ties on climbing, rambler or standard roses and replace any that are broken to avoid plants being blown around in the wind.
December
Dig new rose beds over so they are ready for planting in spring. Dig in plenty of organic matter, such as Westland Farmyard Manure.
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