Remember that roses are greedy feeders and you will not go far wrong. They fare better on clay soils, which hold plenty of nutrients, than on light, sandy soils, which tend to be leached of nutrients and dry out quickly. Dig the soil well before planting; add a layer of well-rotted horse manure at the bottom of the hole, cover this with a layer of soil, and then plant the rose. Choose a good quality rose food and feed twice yearly, first in early spring, when the rose starts to grow, and again at the end of early summer, when the first flush of flower is fading.

Adapted from The Horticulture Gardener’s Guide: Climbers & Wall Plants by Philippa Bensley. Learn more about this book