Rose

[hussar]

Hi When and how do i prune roses

 

[2scoops0406]

Early to mid autumn with a hedge trimmer, depending on the type / variety (hybrid tea / floribunda). Ignore any tosh about secateurs.

 

[Nerine]

Depends on the rose, I think. Only ramblers (Climbers with long arching stems) should be done in august. Everything else in Feb/march. Ordinary climbers take off a third and wire to a support. Roses like a bit of bondage! they respond by flowering more. Hybrid teas, shrubs etc, you can take off two thirds or more if they are looking a bit pathetic. Don't forget to dead- head constantly.

Hedgetrimmers - only if you have an awful lot of roses.

 

[Thermo]

rhs conducted a test between carefully pruning roses with secatuers and using a hedge trimmer, three guesses which responded best!

 

[Nerine]

Ok Thermo, yes I have heard about the RHS trial- but they look really mangled afterwards! Perhaps Hussar should try both methods and let us know what he thinks.

 

[2scoops0406]

Ok Thermo, yes I have heard about the RHS trial- but they look really mangled afterwards! Perhaps Hussar should try both methods and let us know what he thinks.

They like a bit of rough . Yes you're right you shouldn't really prune climbers or ramblers other than to keep them in shape.

 

[JohnD]

And I like to give a final trim in the Christmas holidays, when (down here at least) you can see if there is any die-back, and you can see where the new buds are. Any time up to March will do.

 

[Thermo]

but they look really mangled afterwards!

looked bloomin lovely later on though!