Cottage Duo - David Austin Munstead Wood rose and 3 perennial Blue Cloud Geranium

Plant this collection in sun or partial shade in well-prepared, light, and well-drained soil.

Plant your English Rose Munstead Wood® in sun or light shade. English roses are tolerant of, but do not like excessive limestone. They will adapt to any garden as long as the soil is well-worked and rich enough. To plant your rose, work the soil by crumbling it and add fertiliser at the bottom of the planting hole, such as dried blood or dehydrated horn. Water generously after planting to remove any air pockets. Water regularly for a few weeks to facilitate rooting.

Pruning English roses is essential for flowering. At the end of winter, shorten the branches to 3-5 buds above the ground (at the lowest point), choosing outward-facing buds for a more elegant habit. Take advantage of this pruning to remove dead wood and unsightly branches. Prune at an angle above a bud. As the flowers bloom, deadhead them to stimulate the development of other buds.

Blue Cloud geranium: these prefer a sunny exposure, but tolerate partial shade. Plant them in fertile, well-drained soil that remains moist, even if it is limestone, acidic or clayey. To plant this perennial, work the soil to a depth of 20 cm (8in) by crumbling it and put a foundation fertiliser at the bottom of the planting hole, such as dried blood or dehydrated horn. Position your plants, removed from their pots, covering the top of the root ball with 3 cm (1in) of soil, fill in and water generously to remove any air pockets. In dry weather, water regularly for a few weeks to facilitate rooting.