Rose Pruning
VanessaKoenig
Posts: 6
in Plants
Hello all, I have recently moved to the UK from Holland and we have a wonderful big Rose Compassion in the garden. It flowered in August when we arrived. We cut the deadhead and it grew again, giving wonderful new roses The rest of the new heads are still closed and will not open anymore. Now I would be very happy with advice whether to: 1. Cut it back a lot as the plant used energy to grow the new head again since September. 2. Cut it back now with the frost as I am afraid the stems wil be too vulnerable. Shall I wait till say March? Thanks ever so much!!
Last edited: 03 January 2017 10:31:13
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Hello Vanessa and welcome to the UK and to the forum
The UK climate varies quite a bit depending on whereabouts you are - here in East Anglia I'd prune Compassion in late Feb, early March - depending on the weather. If Spring is early I'd prune mid Feb. I'd also give it a good feed of Fish, Blood and Bone at the same time to perk it up and give it some energy.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
If it's very tall, cut back the stems by a third to a half now to reduce wind resistance in winter gales as this can cause root rock.
Between late Feb and late March - depends on where you are and how cold it is - prune out all obviously dead or thin and spindly stems to the base. Cut back any shoots that cross or rub with others. Cut back all remaining stems to an outward facing bud to leave an open centre and allow air to circulate.
Do this on a day when frost is not forecast and then gently loosen the soil around the base with a hand fork to break up the surface and remove any weeds then give the plant a generous handful of slow release rose food and a drink of liquid rose or tomato food as an instant tonic.
It should be in bloom again in June and will repeat flower as long as you keep dead-heading.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
Hello and thanks!
@ DovefromAbove: In am in Bath, Sommerset, which is a very mild climate to me although there is frost at the moment. Thanks for you quick and handy response!
@Obelixx: Yes, the stems are very tall, tx for picking up on that. And tx for all the info this is very helpful to me and interesting as well.
Good luck,
Vanessa
Vanessa - Bath is lovely and yes, usually milder and less windy than here in East Anglia where it's a bit more like the weather in Holland - I have cousins living in Bath and enjoy visiting - be happy in your new home
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Yes, that closer to the North Sea and the cold winds from there brrrr but also spectacular. Thanks so much!
Welcome Vanessa. I'd also give it a thick mulch after feeding and feed it again in June. Not after June because the growth will be too soft for the coming winter.