AS winter wraps its arms around the country it’s time to think about planting new season’s roses which are at garden centres now and pruning established roses to ensure a blooming display next season.

Roses are forgiving plants. They survive the wettest of winters, driest of summers and, with a little TLC, reward the gardener with an abundance of blooms.

Many are sweetly perfumed, available in a tremendous array of colours, shapes and sizes and are the quintessential flower of friendship, love and support.

Rose plants have been given as gestures of remembrance, support and love after events which have hit the country hard.

Roses for remembrance include Faithful Friend (frilly shades of apricot and peach), Loving Memory (dark red, superior rose), Wise Woman (engaging pink flowers), Absolutely Fabulous (shades of lemon and gold), Sweet Dream (peachy apricot pink), Scentasia (fragrant rich creamy flowers), Lest We Forget (rich red flowers).

Winter care for existing plants

• Remove all dead and diseased leaves from around plants and burn or compost well. Walk away until mid-winter.

• Prune in mid to late winter. Use clean sharp tools and prune on a clear warm day. Prune to remove all dead and diseased stems. Cut main branches back by half, clear the centre of the plant to allow good air movement, leaving at least three to four main stems.

• After pruning, spray with copper to prevent any diseases carrying over to the next season. Later apply Eco-Fungicide or lime-sulphur to clean up powdery mildew. Leave several weeks between spraying with copper or lime sulphur.