Anne Swithinbank’s Masterclass

Anne Swithinbank’s masterclass on: filling gaps in rose beds

Keep an eye on spreading plants like Campanula glomerata

Anne’s picks What you can do now

When these orange-flowered roses open, their blooms contrast well with silvery artichokes. Yet there is a good planting gap between the two. Filling the gaps are thymes and self-sown forget-me-nots followed by aquilegias and pansies

Set off roses with lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and lilies (Lilium regale)

Gaps between roses

We have moved house and the

Qgarden is planted with many rose bushes, but with gaps between them. What can we use to fill the gaps, thwart weeds and complement the roses, and are there any pitfalls to watch out for? We need a lot of plants, so could I start some from seed now? Alice Burke, Lowestoft, Suffolk

Beds planted just with roses used

Ato be the fashion, but even those that repeat-flower are not continuously in bloom and the bushes or shrubs themselves are often ungainly beasts. Times have changed and most gardeners now aim for a relaxed style of planting, designed to encourage and benefit wildlife. A mix of plants to complement the roses and extend the season of interest will also attract a wider variety of insects and birds, many of which eat aphids and other pests.

The biggest pitfall lies in filling the gaps too successfully, with large and floppy plants. Roses enjoy light and air around them, and you will need access to the soil beneath in order to prune, feed and mulch. To allow for this, any plants added should be set 12-18in (30-45cm) away from rose stems. Avoid those that spread and stick to shallowrooting kinds that won’t mind being controlled by cutting back periodically.

This is your first summer, so let the roses show their colours and general performance. Consider removing or moving any that are growing too closely, are weak or not to your liking from autumn to spring while they are dormant. Even mature rose plants usually settle well after being carefully lifted and replanted. While the soil is still bare, apply rose fertiliser now to moist soil and mulch around their roots with well-rotted garden compost or soil conditioner.

Use catmint, pinks and lavender for the edges of borders to set off the roses. Among them, plant Lychnis coronaria, compact cultivars of Salvia x sylvestris such as ‘Caradonna’ , Stachys macrantha ‘Superba’ and well-behaved hardy geraniums easily sheared back after flowering. Plan to plant bulbs of Lilium regale, and alliums in autumn and tulips in November for a spring display.

Good gap-fillers

HERBACEOUS peonies perform well in large gaps as they enjoy the same kind of soil as roses. On lighter soils, perennial gypsophila surrounds blooms with masses of tiny white flowers Against pale roses the dark maroon pincushions of Knautia macedonica show up well. In narrow gaps, toadflax Linaria purpurea ‘Canon Went’ has pale-pink flowers to complement darker roses.

Try peonies, like Sarah Bernhardt, in large gaps between roses

A l a m y Add new herbaceous perennials,

1like Salvia x sylvestris ‘Mainacht’ , between rose stems. After flowering, cut growth down if it interferes with the roses and when clumps are large enough divide in autumn or spring.

Take cuttings of penstemons,

2nipping out buds if needed. They root easily and establish well between roses. Cut back after the first flowering and in spring.

Sow honesty (shown) to flower

3next spring, plus sweet Williams and foxgloves, but sweet rocket can be overbearing on rich soil, so keep it to the edges.

Plant annuals and tender

4perennials like this Nemesia Aromatica Rose Pink into gaps. Also, plant pansies and Orlaya grandiflora with its lacy white flowers.