This year we plan to do a series of blog posts on the garden to help those that are not particularly green-fingered, find gardening a little daunting or just don’t know where to start. Truth be told, Ian and I are no experts, we just love getting out in the garden and getting our hands dirty! There is something really satisfying about working hard in your garden over the Spring and watching nature take its course during the Summer months.
If you watched our stories this weekend, you would know that Ian and I attended a Daylesford Farm Rose Pruning Course with Michael Marriott. Michael is a Senior Rosarian of David Austin Roses and is one of the world’s most respected rose experts, so it’s safe to say he knows what he’s talking about – you can follow his Instagram here.
We received several messages over the weekend from many of you, who like us, were not 100% sure on how to get the best from your roses. So I thought I would share a blog post and highlight some of the basics we learnt on the day to get you started.
There is a lot more I could share, but for now, I will try and keep it as simple as possible!
Why prune your roses?
- Pruning roses will help your rose flower thrive and ensure good quality blooms.
- Helps create a better overall shape
- Limits pests and diseases
- Helps stimulate new growth
When is the best time to prune roses?
- Late December, January or February when the rose is dormant – so now basically!
- Don’t worry if your rose has already started to show signs of new growth – this is still the best time to prune it. Leaving it until March/April will deplete the plant’s energy and encourage spindly shoots which could be more susceptible to frosts.
What will you need to prune?
- Sharp, clean Secateurs – check out this link for the ‘best 10’ on the market.
What’s the best way to prune a rose?
- Ideally above a bud and at a slight angle but don’t worry about this too much as Roses are incredibly hardy and will grow back regardless. Just ensure it’s a nice clean cut and a good overall shape.
- Remember the 4 D’s – remove any Dead, Dying, Diseased and Damaged stems
- Remove any leaves that remain on the roses to limit diseases
- Try and prune into a nice, rounded shape.
How much shall I cut the rose back by?
- As there are many different types of roses (Shrub Roses, Hybrid Teas, Climbing and Rambling Roses etc.) they all have slightly different ways they should be pruned. If you’re unsure on what your rose is, go with the general rule of thumb and prune it by half or leave it for another year. Then in the summer, once it is in full bloom, use Instagram, and the hashtag #namethatplant or #namethatrose and some smart gardeners will probably be able to help you name it, so next year you can follow the best advice for your rose.
What to do after pruning your roses
- Clean up all the stems and fallen leaves (removing any leaves that are still attached to the rose)
- In March, apply a mulch of well-rotted manure from a farm or garden centre around the base of the rose.
So that’s it for now, I hope this has helped, even if a little bit. Don’t worry if it’s still all a bit new and confusing, we all have to start somewhere!
I would love to see you all head out to the garden and get pruning this week. Then all you have to do is sit back, and watch those bad boys grow! I will do another blog post soon about planting and maintaining your roses. Make sure you share your progress pics using the hashtag #jobstasksandchores and we will, of course, re-share on our stories.
Let us know if you have any questions using the comments section below.
Love it!! Can’t wait to keep up with this series ***hunts out secateurs***
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Yes Jen! Get those Secateurs out and get pruning! Let us know how you get on. x
This is fab! Thank you for sharing! We’ve discovered a love for roses since we moved to East Yorkshire. ?❤️
So helpful…thank you! Maybe I need to buy some new secateurs that aren’t rusty! Xx
Does the same apply if you live in Southwest Florida