Gardener says you need to prune your rose bushes now if you want them ‘full of flowers’ next year
AVID gardeners are being warned to look after their rose bushes this weekend to make sure they last.
Typically rose bushes are hardy plants – but they still need a little love before winter draws in.
And William Mitchell from Sutton Manor Nursery has said if you don’t it could leave them battered.
If gardeners want their roses to make it through winter, William says you need to follow one job he’s labelled as “essential.”
The plant expert said you had to prune back shrub roses to “guarantee a luscious, bloom-filled plant full of flowers returning the next year” and ensure their survival.
To keep them tidy and healthy you’ll need to remove old blooms or any leaves stricken with disease, coupled with a good pruning session.
William highlighted: “By the time the autumn months come around both shrub and bush roses will most likely have grown very tall.”
With autumn meaning weather conditions drastically change, the gardening pro said it’s imperative to trim long stems “back by a third to a half” of their original height “immediately”.
When you’re pruning, aim for an open-centred structure which promotes better air circulation for the plant.
The best technique is to snip the rose stems just above a bud facing outwards, whenever possible.
William added: “The conditions that can hugely damage these uncut long stems are wintery windy weather.
“Windy weather can cause considerable damage as the stems are constantly battered by strong winds and could even end up with the plant becoming loose in the soil.”
It’s also vital to prune the heads of roses he says as their rounded tops can act like sails, catching the wind and snapping off.
Through the rest of the month you should keep an eye on the roses and trim away any damp heads to prevent rotting.
You should also make sure you remove and dispose of any remaining leaves that exhibit signs of sickness, such as mildew or black spot as these can cause diseases year after year.
Gardening experts have also revealed that there are other jobs to get on with before winter settles in.
November gardening jobs
The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, shares the tasks to do this month.
Get your garlic in a sunny spot of ground, and you can also plant sweet peas and cut and come again lettuce to see you over the Winter.
Depending on where you live – think about protecting your more tender plants – one brutal frost can set you back psychologically and financially. I’ve had success with plastic cloches which can look nice on smaller plants rather than the bulky fleece. But for plants like bananas, cut them back and wrap them up.
If all the leaves are off your apple tree, you could consider cutting it back. The usual dead, diseased, damaged and crossing branches should be pruned. It will open the tree up and encourage strong Spring growth.
You can either prune your roses the usual way, by cutting off side stems and tying in – or experiment like Niff Barnes – and create incredible sculptures by stripping all the leaves and bending the main framework into swirls and shapes. Its also a good time to take cuttings.
Hellebores are great winter cover – get them in the ground now – along with bright cyclamen for splashes of colour.
Clean your greenhouse – wipe down all the panes – fairy liquid and water is absolutely fine – and work up a sweat by giving it a good tidy and sort out before it’s too cold to be out there too long.
Sounds simple but rake your lawn regularly – you don’t want the grass to die back under mounds of old rotting leaves. Keep the leaves to make leaf mould.
Your lawn may be looking a bit worse for wear after the hot summer months, so now is the perfect time to look into the health of your soil.
To inspect your soil, you must first clear the area of any weeds or debris.
Then, add in some organic matter to help improve the soil structure and fertility.
Leonardo and Domenico, added: “Not many people realise this is such a key step, but we always recommend testing soil pH and making any adjustments to ensure it’s within the ideal range for grass growth.
“Grass needs nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in order to grow well. If the soil pH is too acidic or too alkaline, it can block these nutrients from being absorbed by the grass roots, resulting in poor growth and a patchy lawn.
“Note that the ideal range is typically somewhere between 6.0 and 7.5. If your soil pH is too low it’s a good idea to add lime or wood ash to raise it. If you run the tests and if it’s too high, add organic materials such as sulphur or aluminium sulphate.”