Wiltshire


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses-expert-tips.jpg" alt="Roses" class="wp-image-37384" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses-expert-tips.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses-expert-tips-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses-expert-tips-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses-expert-tips-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Have you been swooning over picture-perfect blooms at gardens around Wiltshire? Well, now’s your chance to create your own insta-worthy rose display. We tapped up the brilliant David Glass, head gardener at Bowood House &amp; Gardens, for his expert advice. With over 100 rose varieties under his care, he knows exactly how to ensure these beauties thrive. Ready to create your own showstopper? Let’s get green fingered&#8230;  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-make-it-affordable">Make it affordable</h2>



<p>If you’re keen to fill your garden with blooms, bare root roses make a great affordable option. These arrive unpotted, with exposed roots and no foliage, and are best planted in autumn. ‘This gives them a head start underground over winter,’ says David. ‘That’ll mean better growth when spring arrives.’</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/Top-tips-for-growing-roses.jpg" alt="Roses" class="wp-image-37388" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/Top-tips-for-growing-roses.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/Top-tips-for-growing-roses-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/Top-tips-for-growing-roses-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/Top-tips-for-growing-roses-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fertilise-like-a-pro"><strong>Fertilise like a pro</strong></h2>



<p>Roses like a sunny spot, with decent drainage. When you’re planting new roses, avoid putting them too close together and give them a head start by adding extra nutrients to the soil. ‘I use Rootgrow, to help the roots establish,’ says David. ‘I also mix well-rotted horse or farmyard manure into the soil, to boost nutrients from the start.’</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-go-slow-release"><strong>Go slow-release</strong></h2>



<p>When spring rolls around, it’s time to apply a slow-release fertiliser to the soil. ‘It’ll keep the plant fed through the season,’ adds David. ‘Consistent watering during dry spells is also especially important in the first year.’</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses-Wiltshire.jpg" alt="Roses" class="wp-image-37386" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses-Wiltshire.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses-Wiltshire-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses-Wiltshire-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses-Wiltshire-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-replace-tired-soil"><strong>Replace tired soil</strong></h2>



<p>Replacing an old or tired rose? David says it’s essential to swap out the current soil in favour of fresh stuff. ‘Planting a new rose in tired ground can cause sickness, due to lingering pathogens,’ he explains. Instead, dig in new soil from elsewhere in your garden, or invest in good quality topsoil or compost.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-watch-for-aphids"><strong>Watch for aphids</strong></h2>



<p>When rose buds finally form, keep an eye out for aphids. When they do appear, there’s no need to reach for harsh insecticides.<strong> ‘</strong>I use a horticultural soap to manage them early on,’ says David. Simply spray it onto the affected areas.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses.jpg" alt="Roses" class="wp-image-37387" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-roses-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-snip-spent-blooms"><strong>Snip spent blooms</strong></h2>



<p>To encourage a long-lasting display of blooms, keep deadheading your roses. ‘After your roses flower,&nbsp;deadhead them by cutting back to the first set of six healthy leaves beneath the spent flower,’ says David. ‘This encourages repeat blooms and keeps the plant tidy.’</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sort-black-spot"><strong>Sort black spot</strong></h2>



<p>Look out for dark spots on leaves. These are a sign of black spot, a common fungal disease. ‘If you spot yellowing leaves or signs of black spot, remove them immediately,’ says David. ‘Clear up any fallen ones to prevent it spreading further.’</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-climbing-roses.jpg" alt="Roses" class="wp-image-37382" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-climbing-roses.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-climbing-roses-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-climbing-roses-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/07/How-to-grow-climbing-roses-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cut-with-confidence"><strong>Cut with confidence</strong></h2>



<p>Around early November, David cuts back shrub roses by a third. ‘The main&nbsp;pruning takes place in January,’ he adds. ‘I cut plants to half their original size, removing weak or dead stems and always cutting just above an outward-facing bud. Clearing away leaves from the base helps stop diseases overwintering in the soil. If a shrub is particularly dense, I’ll thin out some of the older growth to improve airflow and reduce the risk of mildew.’</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-train-your-climbers"><strong>Train your climbers</strong></h2>



<p>Growing a climbing rose? To create a picture-perfect plant, David recommends tying young stems to the wall as they grow. ‘I train new shoots at a 45-degree angle and often criss-cross stems to create a lattice,’ he adds. ‘This encourages flowering lower down the plant, so you don’t end up with all the blooms at the top. A little structure leads to a better display later.’</p>



<p><strong>To see David’s green fingered skills in action, <a href="https://bowood.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">visit Bowood House &amp; Gardens</a>.</strong></p>


Blooming lovely! How to grow gorgeous roses

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