I have a mature glaucous rose which has got a bit leggy and has not flowered as well this year. It is doing battle with a nearby acer which will be pruned later in the year. should I cut it back hard or give it the usual light, cosmetic prune?
In London. Keen but lazy.
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Nice plant B3 - one of my favourites.
If it's a mature specimen I would do the usual removal of dead, diseased, crossing branches plus remove a couple (few? - depends how many there are) of the oldest stems down to ground level in late winter. A good mulch & feed and it should be stimulated to throw up some new productive stems.
The RHS recommend removal of a few old stems each year to prevent congestion in the centre of the shrub and promote new growth. I cut an old neglected glauca back completely (over three seasons) & was quickly rewarded with lots of new healthy and productive growth.
Enjoy!
Thanks topbird. It's one of my favourites too.