ROSES are very forgiving plants
THIS time of year is the best time for roses as they fully awaken after their winter sleep. Roses come in so many colours, yet lots of people don’t grow them because they think they are too much work, pruning, spraying, feeding, deadheading. But there is a rose for everyone. Pruning: is once a year (like most plants to keep them in control) from July to August. It’s not that hard, and even if you don’t get it right, the rose is forgiving and it will still reward you with flowers the following spring. There are lots of guides out there on how to prune roses, so don’t let this put you off growing at least one. Spraying: some people spray their roses throughout the year, but I only spray once with copper and winter spraying oil once I have pruned them and that’s the only time. Feeding: I fertilise my roses when I prune them because who wouldn’t be hungry after being asleep all winter? I’ll spray again in spring and summer and just throw some fertiliser around the bottom of the plant. I like to mix sheep pellets with a good garden fertiliser. Deadheading: You can easily do this by picking the flowers for a vase inside or giving away to family and friends. Or if you are like me and have heaps on your morning walk around the garden, take a pair of snips with you and remove the old flowers. By removing them you are letting them put energy into producing new flowers. I only buy roses that have a scent. Some of my favourites are Blackberry Nip, Tuscany, Louise Odier, Gertrude Jekyll, Munstead Wood, Charles de Mills, Compassion to name a few. Even though I only buy scented ones, I have lots of unscented ones too that I have re-homed over the years. There are some lovely named roses also which are perfect for certain occasions like Happy Birthday, Best Friend, Mum in a Million, Special Gift, Dad’s Delight, Faithful Friend, Golden Moments, My Girl, With Love to name a few. If you are still unsure, why not start with a carpet rose. They are so easy to grow; no special pruning, just give them a whop with your garden shears each year, and throw some fertiliser at them and they will reward you with blooms most of the year.
