A bed of roses; Gardening.

Byline: PIPPA GREENWOOD

Roses - where would we be without them? I'm not talking about those perfume-free, stick-straight things florists sell for an enormous price.

For me, a rose is one of the vital ingredients of an English garden, whether it is big or small or in the north or south!

The range is enormous, from simple dog roses to the elegant tea blooms, and the ways they can be used is a lot wider than most people realise. So what goes where and how can you make sure that the roses you plant bloom their best?

(1) Small climbers

Climbing roses aren't just pretty - they create delightful perfume, too. Check out 'Highgrove', a lovely new rose from Peter Beales Roses, introduced at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. It has deep red blooms with a citrus scent and makes a perfect climber for a small space.

(2) Potted pleasure

A rose may not be the first plant that comes to mind for potted colour but some do really well in large pots or planters. David Austin Roses' 'Grace' has delightful rich apricot, rosette-like blooms. This little charmer can also be planted towards the front of the border for great results.

(3) Seaside spectacular

Gardening in a location close to the sea can have difficult restrictions, but you need not go without a rose. Try 'Bonica', with crimson full blooms, or 'Ballerina', with hydrangealike clusters of small single flowers (both Peter Beales).

(4) Perfect for perfume

Rose perfume gives a magical feel to a garden so if, like me, you hanker after some natural knockout fragrance, search catalogues for varieties noted for perfume. Most roses have something to offer but some, such as 'Gertrude Jekyll' (David Austin) with very full, large and rich pink flowers, have a very strong fragrance.

(5) Walls of the roses

Roses look wonderful trained over a support to cover a wall and hide a lessthan-beautiful surface. Climbers suit this as they are less rampant than ramblers. Try the yellowy-orange 'Teasing Georgia' (David Austin).

(6) Tree transformation

I'm a great fan of trees but the first to admit some can be just, well... too green! Add interest and colour with a rambling rose. These are rampant cousins of climbers and grow more vigorously. Great choices for a good-sized tree include 'Crimson Shower', with dark foliage offsetting crimson flowers, and 'Francis E Lester' for a wilder-looking flower like a super-sized dog-rose (both David Austin). Plant in a well-prepared hole, use canes and wire... and let it run!

(7) Hedged bets

There's something stunning about a rose hedge (below) - they look beautiful but also provide a useful intruder deterrent. Choose varieties that are naturally pretty healthy and disease-free such as 'Wild Edric' (David Austin), which has large pink, semi-double and strongly-perfumed flowers yet is also very thorny!

(8) Pretty pergola 

Pergolas need plenty of plants. If you're after colour and perfume then roses are among your best bets. Ramblers are a good choice for very large arches, while climbers are best for pergolas - check out the repeat-flowering, rich yellow and muskperfumed 'Malvern Hills'. 'James Galway' (far left) also fits the bill with pink blooms and old-rose fragrance (both David Austin).

Rosy rules

Keep the soil fairly moist - they need this to perform well and avoid succumbing to too much mildew. A heavy but not attack need (45cm) plenty drier off keep waterlogged soil often provides a brilliant spot.

Make sure they have a fair bit of sun - ideally full sun. Roses won't die off in shade but will be more inclined to get leggy and are unlikely to flower so well.

Make space for climbers - dryness around the roots of any plant will make it prone to powdery mildew fungal so wall-trained climbers to be planted at least 18in from a wall and be given of mulch and water during weather if they're to shrug this debilitating infection.

Use dedicated rose fertiliser to all types in top condition.

Be sharp with pruning - always use really sharp secateurs to avoid damaging the stems and ensure you prune to a healthy-lookingoutward-facing bud.

Keep it new - If you've grown roses in a particular spot in your garden, don't replant the same area with roses, or the new plants will be prone to rose sickness.

Solve it!

THE PROBLEM: Have you spotted Cuckoo spit, which looks like foamy white blobs of unpleasant goo clinging to the the stems of plants? I have it in my garden at the moment. Is it a plant disease you should be worried about?

THE SOLUTION: Don't panic - it's simply the foam produced during the early development of a tiny insect called a froghopper and acts as a protective blanket, keeping the creature snug and putting off hungry predators.

On occasion, there will be a little bit of damage to the shoot tip but, generally, this critter looks a lot more worrying than it is.

Leave the patches of so-called spit be, they won't be around too long. If you really can't bear them, jet the stems with water from your hose to wash them clean.

CAPTION(S):

APRICOT: Grace is perfect for pots BEAUTIFUL: Gertrude Jekyll has great looks and fragrance