'Ray of Sunshine®' Shrub Rose

The main problems for roses are aphids (greenfly) and rose black spot - although many of the newer varieties have good resistance to it. Greenfly can be removed by hand and squashed, or if you don't fancy that you can wipe them off with a damp cloth or spray the area lightly with a water and vegetable oil mixture. Black spot appears as unsightly patches on leaves, but doesn't usually harm the plant unless it takes hold. In extreme cases growth can be stunted. Check regularly and remove any affected leaves, making sure to remove any fallen leaves or petals as soon as possible, as the disease spores are stored here and can re-infect the soil, affecting the next season's growth. A good preventative measure is mulching around the base of the plant so that rain doesn't splash any soil-borne spores onto the plant's foliage.

Water your roses as closely as possible to the base of the plant and avoid splashing foliage or flowers as this can encourage diseases and moulds. A soft spray is better, so if using a hosepipe, a rose attachment is perfect. Pay special attention to roses in pots, next to walls, in sandy soil and when newly planted, and don't allow the soil to dry out completely.

Roses prefer a position in direct sunlight and do best with at least 4-6 hours of sun per day. However they can also thrive with a little light shade, especially in the afternoons.

Roses do well in most soil types, as long as they're well draining - they hate their roots to be waterlogged - and not too dry. Loamy soil is perfect - if your soil is very heavy or sandy, you could mix in some garden compost to rebalance it.

Feed your roses in late March/April at the start of the growing season, then again in late July after the first blooms have finished. Sprinkle a granular rose food over the soil - this will release its nutrients over several months, promoting healthy growth and repeat flowering. ?v=1613300960