Garden expert Richard King, at Dino Decking, shared his top tips for cultivating a beautiful rose bush in the garden.

From now until March, bare-root roses are the "best choice" to plant in the garden.

"During this dormant season, the plants are less likely to experience transplant shock, allowing their roots to establish more easily before spring growth begins," Richard explained.

When it comes to planting the bare-root roses, ensure they are in a part of the garden that receives adequate sunlight.

Richard elaborated: "Roses love sunlight! Make sure to plant them in a location with at least six hours of direct sun per day to encourage strong growth and abundant blooms."

Rich, well-draining soil that has "plenty of organic matter" is the best sort for growing rose bushes.

Mulching around the base of the rose plant "helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature, creating the perfect environment for healthy, thriving roses".

At this time of year, the rose bush is establishing strong roots, so it does not need much watering.

"If there is regular rainfall, additional watering may not be necessary," said Richard.

But if there is a dry spell, or you live in a particularly cold and dry climate, watering the rose bush every three weeks will be enough to prevent the roots from drying out.

"Water at the base of the plant to avoid encouraging fungal diseases like black spot or powdery mildew," Richard instructed.

"If the ground is frozen, avoid watering altogether, as the roots won’t be able to absorb moisture."

If you already have a pre-existing rose bush, now is the best time to prune them before new growth begins in spring.

It's also time to add rose fertiliser to encourage "abundant blooms" throughout the next season.

Richard added: "Roses take time to establish, especially if you’ve just planted a bare-root rose.

"Don’t worry if you don’t see much growth right away as it takes time for them to establish strong roots.

"By late spring and early summer, you should start to see strong, healthy new shoots and beautiful flowers begin to bloom."