Rosa ‘Happy Birthday’

Clusters of small, creamy-yellow flowers typically appear over several months, topping the glossy, mid-green foliage of this patio rose. Its compact size makes it ideal for smaller spaces, and it will happily flourish in a pot on a sunny balcony or terrace – provided it is kept well fed and watered! Alternatively, use it to fill gaps at the front of the border, or line it up along the edges of a pathway for summer-long colour.

All our roses are grown in an open field and then dug up when the weather conditions are right in October or November. They will already have been cut back so no further pruning will be required, apart from snipping off any tips that have died back. Routine pruning can begin in late winter the year after planting.

Gently spread out the roots before placing them in the centre of the hole. Try to ensure that the ‘bud union’ (the point where the cultivated rose has been grafted onto the rootstock, and from where the shoots emerge) is at soil level. You can judge this quite easily by laying something flat, like a spade handle or bamboo cane, across the top of the hole. When they are at the right height, back-fill the hole, firming the soil down gently before watering the plant well.

Water generously until well established, and apply a specialist rose fertiliser (following the manufacturer’s instructions) each spring. They will also benefit from a generous mulch of composted farmyard manure in spring, but make sure this is kept away from the stems.

While wearing tough gloves, prune in late winter or early spring, removing any dead, damaged or weak-looking stems completely. The younger stems tend to produce the best flowers, so if the plant is becoming congested, cut one or two of the older stems right back to their base, which will also help open up the centre of the plant. Then cut back the most vigorous stems to within 25-30cm from the base, and the thinner stems back a little harder.