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old-rose-bush

Northern_GardenerNorthern_Gardener Posts: 15
in Plants

Hi there,

First post on here. I was wondering if anyone can help me. I have an old rose bush in my back garden of my my new house that is about 7ft tall. I was wondering what is the best way to cut it back with out killing it as I do like the flowers it produces. 

 

I'm a novice gardener but really want to make something of my new garden. I can supply a picture tomorrow if thats helpful. 

 

Thanks in advance 

 

J

Posts

  • SalinoSalino Posts: 1,609

    ...don't be afraid of your rose... most are quite resilient and can be pruned as hard as you like... however it does depend somewhat on what type of rose this is.. you don't tell us it's name or whether it flowers only at midsummer for a few weeks, or flowers again in the autumn...i.e. remontant...

    ..if it flowers only at midsummer... then I wouldn't prune at all now... too late... you will be cutting off next year's flowers... if it's a rose that also flowers into the autumn... then next Spring.. about late Feb... I would cut it back by about half.... don't be too fussy about pruning... if you can prune just above a bud - fine... if not...just shear it off... tests have shown that it doesn't matter....

  • Northern_GardenerNorthern_Gardener Posts: 15

    Thanks for the reply! I'm not sure what kind of rosé bush it is as I've only been in the house a few weeks. The flowers have died off now so maybe see if it Flowers again in the autumn? 

    There long straight stalks and yellow flowers that all died last week if that's any help to identify it? 

    If it doesn't flower in autumn then when should I cut it back? 

    Thanks 

    J

  • SalinoSalino Posts: 1,609

    ...that fact that it's a yellow flower with long straight stalks suggests to me that it's a more modern Floribunda or Hybrid Tea type, or possibly an 'English' rose....some of which can grow quite tall and lanky if left unpruned... cut off the dead flower stalks now and you should get a repeat flowering in September.... if this is the case you can cut it back a bit during the autumn/winter if you like... in case it suffers from 'windrock' in the winter gales... and then finish off pruning - back to half way down... next Feb... feed with rose fertilizer at that time...

    ...are you able to post a photo...?

  • Northern_GardenerNorthern_Gardener Posts: 15

    Ill try and put a photo up later when I get home. 

     

    Thanks so much! 

    J 

  • SalinoSalino Posts: 1,609

    ..that's ok.. we might be able to have a go with it... lots of yellow roses but some are more popular than others... it could be the Austin rose 'The Pilgrim'... it would fit the description...

    ..bi for now...

  • Northern_GardenerNorthern_Gardener Posts: 15

    He's the photos. Don't know if there much use as thers no flowers on them!

     

    Thanks J

    image

    image

     

     

  • waterbuttswaterbutts Posts: 1,214

    It might be Arthur Bell. Are there reddish thorns on the new growth and not a lot of them plus three or four devilish little thorns under each leaf?

    Are the flowers a pure egg yellow that doesn't fade to cream or go red in the sun, double in shape and sweetly scented?

    New growth comes up with enthusiasm and the tips of the shoots are coppery orange?

    If so, you can prune it back by about a foot or two now, just to get rid of the messy spent flower heads. Then in the spring you could trim out any growth that is getting straggly or matted. If it is Arthur Bell it will need regular thinning as it does get a bit carried away with itself.

    A fantastic rose.

  • Northern_GardenerNorthern_Gardener Posts: 15

    I've googled Arthur Bell roses and they the roses do look like that but slightly more faded which apparently happens with age.

     

    I'll have a look at the thorns tomorrow. Does this mean it's a climber? There is a trellis behind it which iys pulling off the wall!

     

     The roses are gorgoues it's really want it a lot smaller so there not gonna dig me in the head when i'm sitting on the seat!

     

    Thanks for the help!

     

    J

  • waterbuttswaterbutts Posts: 1,214

    I have what is called a Climbing Arthur Bell but it's not really what I think of as a climber. It gets to about 8 or 9 feet which is barely enough to qualify in my book. It is a big, shrubby thing though. And very hearty and healthy. I can quite believe that it would pull a trellis off a wall.

    The flowers grow in groups of two or three on a stem but don't flower at the same time so you get a nice show for a long time, maybe six weeks or more.

    You can avoid thorns in the bonce by growing it taller. I think you'd get more flowers that way.

  • Northern_GardenerNorthern_Gardener Posts: 15

    I think I'll cut it back and try to fix the trellis!

     

    Thanks for all your help!

    J

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