A small rose garden can do much to colour and dress up your landscape design. Just watering your roses will not do, care for your roses like you would your baby. Some tips on rose care:

• Direct sunlight is ideal for the growth of roses, though they will tolerate partial shade. Keep that in mind while planning your garden.

• Keep the soil rich and loose and pamper your roses generously with food and nutrients. Garden soil should be mixed with generous portions of compost and manure. Even cow manure will do. Provide nutrients on a regular basis as roses require a significant amount.

• Phosphorus is the magic ingredient in fertilizers to promote bloom of big, beautiful flowers. Fertilize on a regular basis if possible every two to three weeks. Use a higher nitrogen fertilizer at the beginning of the season to promote growth of leaves and roots. Switch over to higher phosphorus as the first buds begin to appear.

• Roses like lots of water and loose soil, which drains well. Adjust your watering to add more for sandy soils and less for clay soil. Water at the base of the plant, and avoid getting the leaves wet. Hot humid weather is a breeding ground for rose diseases. Adding water to the leaves during humid weather will help promote disease. Also insecticide or fungicides sprayed on the leaves will be washed away.

• Do not, ever, neglect your rose garden. Weeds can ruin its beauty and rob your rose bush of water and nutrients. Avoid this by applying a heavy layer of mulch. Organic mulches are preferred as they will convert over time to compost, further enriching your soil. You can add several inches, effectively blocking all but the most persistent of weeds. Or, you can lay down black plastic, then add a lighter layer of mulch.

• Prune your bush on a regular basis and allow several main stems to grow and develop. Prune in such a way that there is enough room between the stems for good air circulation. This will help to avoid plant diseases.

• Take steps at the first sign of insects or disease. Do not wait for a serious condition to develop. Early and regular treatment is recommended. Do not wait till pests take up residence on the plant or in the flower.