Roses will grow 'bigger and stronger flowers' if easy 3-minute task is followed in October

Roses are a garden favourite - there is so much to love about them; the blooms, the scent and the knowledge that there is a rose for pretty much every spot in the garden.

To keep the roses in tip-top condition there are a few things to help them in their dormant season for the "best summer showing", according to the gardening experts at Hayloft.

From late summer into early autumn many roses have "a late flourish of flowers".

To maintain their blooms for as long as possible and ensure they return with "bigger and stronger flowers", the pros claimed that it is "important to deadhead them correctly" now before the UK heads closer to winter.

The term deadheading refers to the act of removing flowers from a plant. In most instances, these are blooms that have started to age and are no longer considered attractive.

On occasion, gardeners may also find it necessary to remove flowers or buds that have been damaged.

Though some plants need only be deadheaded to keep a neat and tidy appearance, others like roses will find that the process is an essential part of their overall health and vitality.

The experts said: "A pair of clean secateurs are important so that you can cut the spent flower stem back down to a leaf with five leaflets.

"This encourages the rose to strengthen the stem and gives more energy to the other flowers."

According to the gardeners at Squires Garden Centres, deadheading isn't a difficult garden task and can very effectively be done in just three to five minutes.

They also added that if roses are deadheaded "little and often", you can be sure of "strong blooms" and a "fresh appearance" for "many flowering seasons to come".

Another task gardeners can do to prepare their roses for winter is to mulch. Ideally, the best time to apply mulch to the roses is early spring.

However - if your roses were not mulched previously, or if all the mulch has disappeared by autumn - it is probably worth giving the roses mulch in late autumn.

Make sure the ground is clear of debris, such as leaves, and apply the mulch around the base of the rose in a thick layer of around five to 10cm. Well-rotted manure, soil improver, leaf mould or compost are all ideal.