Rosa Generosa Emilien Guillot

Roses prefer a sunny location (at least 4 to 5 hours of sun per day) but sheltered from the scorching midday sun and strong winds. Plant them from October to April. Easy to grow, roses appreciate loose, permeable, and humus-rich soils. They prefer a soil with a neutral pH but will adapt to any garden as long as the soil is well worked and sufficiently rich.

To plant your potted rose, work the soil to a depth of 25 cm (10in), crumble the soil well, and place a base amendment such as dried blood or dehydrated horn at the bottom of the planting hole. Position your plant, freed from its pot, covering the top of the root ball with 3 cm (1in) of soil. Fill in the hole and water generously to eliminate air pockets.

In dry weather, water regularly for a few weeks to facilitate root growth. Also, remember to provide your rose with special rose fertiliser to stimulate plant flowering. Prune its branches by one-third each spring.