17-06-2017, 11:19 AM
14
Re: Raindrops on roses
My advice on roses is, unless you are a serious or competitive grower, is to keep it simple. If black spot appears, it IS likely to spread to all of your other roses. So, once you have cut off affected leaves and stems, and disposed of them, spray all of your rose bushes every two weeks with Rose Clear or similar. A lot of complicated advice is given on pruning of roses, but it can be quite simple. Throughout the flowering season, cut longish stems just as they are about to open, for your vases. Remove the thorns, and any leaves which would be under water in the vase. If you are not gathering flowers, then enjoy the display, but frequently snip out any flowerheads as soon as they begin to fade. If there are a lot of flowers bunched together just carefull snip out the blown flower. If it is and isolated flower on a long stem, take out the stem too, right down to any pair of leaves. At the end of the season, I roughly prune all rose bushes and climbers by about half. Don't be fussy, this is just to prevent wind rock to the roots, whilst allowing enough nutrient to be drawn back into the plant. Then, in spring, as the first leaf buds appear cut back half again. You can be a little fussier now. Look for a pair of outward facing buds and cut just above with sharp secateurs. Try to make the cut slope outwards so rain will roll off. Then give all of the plants their first feed of the season. Don't worry about fine details. It is very, very, difficult to do any real damage, and you will still get a fine display. Disease and pests are the biggest enemies, such as black spot, powdery mildew, and greenly. On these you must be vigilant. Over enthusiastic pruning won't kill your plants. Disease will, so be vigilant.
18-06-2017, 10:17 AM
17
Re: Raindrops on roses
Paddy, thank you so much for your info, I have printed it out. Please keep posting its nice to have someone with your knowledge giving advice, along with the other experience gardeners here of course. I have much to learn
PS I sprayed all my roses with Rose clear last night and gathered up every single leaf with a mark on it...here's hoping I got it in time, fingers crossed.
18-06-2017, 07:46 PM
18
Re: Raindrops on roses
Originally Posted by Mups
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Ladies, I think we have an expert in our midst. Good, sound advice there, Paddy. Thank you.
Paddy, were you a professional gardener or grower before retirement by any chance?
19-06-2017, 01:41 AM
19
Re: Raindrops on roses
Originally Posted by Mups
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Paddy, were you a professional gardener or grower before retirement by any chance?
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