On my recent to trip to France I visited St Emilion and driving along through the acres of wonderful vineyards which surround the town I saw for myself an ancient method of companion planting; roses planted at the edges vineyards.

Not only do the roses look beautiful but they also perform a very important role. Roses are more sensitive to the fungal diseases powdery mildew and downy mildew and by planting roses at the edges of the vineyard they serve as an early warning system to the vineyard teams as the roses will fall victim before the vines. The disease can be treated if caught in the early stages.

The roses also create an important habitat for some beneficial insects.

The Romans used this early warning system for their vines and they are also thought to have dropped rose petals into their wine as it was thought it was a cure for drunkeness!