COLUMNIST: KAREN STEWART-RUSSELL
It is important to carefully consider which rose to select. I know that in Fife where my garden is, I get less sun and it is colder than it is further south, so I look for more shade-tolerant roses which seem to do best in my garden.
Another crucial thing to look for in a rose is how resistant it is to disease. Older varieties tend to be more disease-prone so are best avoided unless you like a real challenge.
Wet weather increases the risk of black spot and powdery mildew which are the most common diseases I see here, so choosing the most disease resistant rose gives you an advantage.
As well as being unsightly, diseases like black spot can weaken your rose, so what can you do about it? I have a wildlife friendly garden so I do not use chemical controls but there is much you can do to mitigate the chance of having diseased roses.
Prevention is definitely better than the cure and it is important to start with a strong foundation, in the soil. Mulching is key to healthy, strong roses which will be much less susceptible to disease. At least once a year mulch with a good thick layer of peat-free compost or well rotted manure. Mulching greatly improves your soil condition, keeps down the weeds, and helps retain moisture.
Roses need a lot of water to stay healthy and fight disease. When watering though, water the ground not the whole rose plant, as damp is a great friend to disease. It is best to water in the morning rather than the evening before it gets cooler so that any water that is splashed on to the leaves has time to evaporate. Avoid watering in the middle of the day as the leaves can scorch and you will waste water as it evaporates quickly before it gets right down to the roots.
If your roses do suffer from blackspot or powdery mildew, remove and destroy infected leaves - it is important not to compost them as the last thing you want is to spread the disease. Make sure to remove infected fallen leaves too as the spores can spread back on to the rose when you water. I find a lot of diseases spread from the bottom up so look down for any signs and you may well be able to stop it before it spreads further up the plant.
Keeping good airflow is another important way to help keep your rose disease free so pruning is important. I usually take the height down a bit in late autumn to help against wind rock. Then in late winter into early spring, prune to achieve an open goblet shape, removing any branches crossing over or rubbing against another branch. Disinfect your secateurs between each bush to avoid spreading any disease prevalent - I use a bowl of soapy water with a few drops of tea tree oil to dip mine in.
If it is quite windy where you are, staking is a useful idea. Wind rock can really damage and weaken the roots which leaves your rose at risk of problems. A light prune to reduce the height once your rose has finished flowering for the year also helps reduce wind rock.
Greenfly is an issue that seems to worry people a lot but I do not find they harm the roses in any significant way so tend to leave them be. They are an important food source for beneficial insects, plus I am a big softie so could not squish them.
Growing roses might sound like a lot of work, and it is true that our wet and windy Scottish weather makes rose growing more tricky but it is absolutely worth it.
It is hard to think of a more beautiful flower, and the fragrance is tough to beat. Pottering round the garden, cutting beautiful blooms for the house is a real pleasure and will make you forget all the hard work to support these show-stoppers in an instant.
Karen Stewart-Russell lives in the heart of rural Fife. Passionate about the mental health benefits of gardening, she shares the joy of growing with her local community through her over the garden wall seed, plant, and book library.
Karen has a relaxed, wildlife friendly garden, full of flowers. She is a huge fan of roses, as well as a great lover of herbs, and their use. Follow Karen's gardening on Instagram.