People will be starting to head out into their gardens to get everything ready for the summer. The days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer, meaning it's the perfect time for gardeners to get important jobs done.

A gardening expert has explained three key jobs that will help you have healthier roses this summer. Susie Curtis, a horticulturist expert from Johnsons Seeds, is encouraging gardeners to act quickly if they want to have an "abundance of blooms" this year.

The first job to do is pruning, which involves removing dead or diseased wood and shaping the plant to promote healthy growth. However, time is running out to do this as Susie recommends the best time to prune as late winter or early spring.

She said: "For shrub roses, it is best to wait till late winter (March at the latest), just before bud break. Prune to a healthy,
outward facing bud and aim to create a goblet shaped structure to your shrub rose."

Susie added: "This goblet shape prevents congestion and allows airflow through the plant, which in turn reduces the occurrence of fungal disease. Each year, try to prune out a couple of the oldest stems, as well as any dead, diseased or rubbing material, which can allow disease to enter the plant. Remember to use clean, sharp pruning tools."

The second job to complete is mulching. This helps your roses to retain soil moisture and keeps the roots cool.

Mulching is the practice of covering soil with a protective layer of material, called mulch. Mulch can be made from organic materials like leaves, grass, or bark, or inorganic materials like stones or brick.

Susie explained: "Improve your soil and feed your rose plants by mulching around their base with a thick layer of organic matter such as home-made compost or well-rotted manure.

"This will not only add nutrients to the soil, but will also retain moisture during hotter periods and improve the structure of your soil, giving you a healthier rose plant as a result. Mulching is traditionally carried out between late autumn to early spring.

The third and final step to complete ahead of the summer is feeding. Susie recommends applying feed to your roses in a number of ways, including the use of granular products and liquid concentrates.

She said: "In spring, as buds begin to break, apply a dose of balanced feed to promote strong growth and give your roses a good start to the growing season. A strong, healthy rose is more likely to withstand climate fluctuations and disease, as well as
producing more flowers."

Susie also recommends giving your roses another balanced feed after they have finished their first flowering in mid-summer. This will produce more blooms and extend the flowering season.