THE GARDENING SECTION
Ring a ring of roses
Nancy supposes her toeses are roses, but Nancy supposes erroneously
The front garden of my childhood home was packed to the gills with alternating red and white rose bushes. I always wondered why all the rose gardens in my youth seemed to have rose, bare earth, then another rose. In my professional gardening career I quickly discovered why; they are the Marlene Dietrich of the plant world, they want to be alone.
Roses are fickle; they like moisture but not too much, they like wind but not too much, and they absolutely hate to be crowded in.
Knowing what I know now I spot climbing roses with a clematis or honeysuckle winding through them and can easily spot the signs of stress. Mould and mildew mixed in with endless aphid infestations are abound.
Making your roses happier bunnies is an easy hop, skip and a jump away. Firstly, clear a space, give them room Secondly, prune to provide an open habit. Your primary task is to remove all dead wood, as this will only spread disease. Afterwards dead head all those rose hips if you don’ t need them for winter colour. Next on the agenda is to create an open habit, in the shape of a goblet, all growth heading outwards away from the crown of the plant. Look at the branches that are crossing over each other, the one that is growing into the centre of the plant needs to go. Be brutal. Stand back. You will spot little buds on the stems, the way they are pointing is the way the rose will grow if you snip just above it at an angle( see diagram). Start with around the edges and work your way inside, only cut above a bud that is pointing outwards from the middle of the plant.
Stand back again. Will any of the new shoots end up crossing over each other? If there is an obvious candidate, keep the one that adds to the goblet shape more.
If the prospect of pruning a beloved but overgrown rose fills you with horror, then do contact me, I provide one to one garden consultations and will stand right beside you guiding you and your secateurs to the right place.
You can prune roses at any time of year, even when it is snowing, but most gardeners prefer to provide a light prune after flowering and a hard prune in late autumn.
Then you can get to work tackling the aphids, which a damped piece of cotton wool brushed over infected areas should reduce the problem. Use a fresh piece of cotton wool for each plant. Also if you happen spot a random ladybird elsewhere in your garden, move the ladybird to your roses and your rose will thank you for providing a 3 course meal for our spotty friendly bug.
l For one to one garden consultations do not hesitate to contact me at westhillgardenoracle @ gmail. com.
Nancy Kirk
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