Waterwise isn’t the first word that comes to mind when roses are mentioned. Most gardeners regard roses as very thirsty plants that require vast amounts of water to thrive in the warm summer months. The good news is that there are a number of ways that you can save water in your rose garden.

Here are some water-saving tips for those who can’t resist the allure of a fragrant garden bed filled with roses : Choose the right roses: Groundcover roses with branches which shade the roots of the plants cope well in hot, dry conditions. Try the Sunsation series of roses in Pink, Salmon and Cream, as well as Waterwise Blush and Queen Mother. Bush roses which cope well without copious watering include Ingrid Bergman, Double Delight and Peace.

Prepare the soil well: When planting roses, add three spadefuls of compost to each planting hole. Compost improves the structure of soil and helps it to retain water. Also add water-retaining granules, like Leca, Stockabsorb or Aquasoil, to the soil to ensure extra water retention.

Add the finishing touches: Once you have planted your roses, shape the soil around the plant into a basin shape so that when you water the plant, all water is channeled to the roots and it does not run off to other areas. Apply a 5-10cm layer of organic mulch around the rose bush to help keep the soil and roots cool.

Protect your roses: Spray rose plants fortnightly to prevent fungal infections and insect infestations. A healthy rose bush is able to withstand far warmer and drier conditions than a diseased plant..