Pruning
Carry out pruning in winter while roses are dormant. It is important to use a sharp secateurs as this will give a clean cut preventing disease entering the wound. It also means you are less likely to crush the stem. Make the cut approximately half a centimetre above a bud. Ideally this should be slightly sloping away to the back but not sloping below the bud itself. If possible, you should avoid leaving long snags above a bud as these will die back sometimes carrying dead growth down behind the bud which may damage new growth.
When pruning, you should cut out all dead and diseased growth. Also, cut back all of last year’s growth to between 2 and 4 buds above the ground. Try to select outward-facing buds. This will encourage a more pleasing shape and helps avoid tangled stems.
With climbing roses you will need to remove any stems growing in the wrong direction, but rather than cutting hard to the ground you will need to tidy the plant back to the wall.
Dead-Heading
Dead-heading roses is very important and by carrying out this practice you can guarantee yourself extra flowers. By removing the dead flowers, you are preventing energy going into developing seedheads. When the flowers have faded, cut the stem 3-4 leaves below the flower. This will ensure a new flowering shoot, which will bring you extra colour a little later. There is no need to remove dead flowers on roses which are grown for their decorative hips or roses which are only once-flowering.
Feeding
Roses provide a fantastic display and offer superb value for money. But to get the very best from your rose and to guarantee a healthy show of flowers, it is essential that you feed on a regular basis. Rose blossoms make a great demand on the plant and so supplementing with feeding ensures a good crop.
The most popular rose feeds, which are widely available, are granular fertilisers. These contain a special blend of nutrients, including magnesium,which is very important to roses. This blend is specially formulated to give the rose everything it needs to perform well. These granular feeds should only be used while the rose is in active growth. They do not contribute to improving the soil but act quickly by feeding the rose. Liquid fertilisers are also available. These are an excellent choice for quick feeding. It is advisable to feed on a regular basis, following instructions. It is best to use little and often rather than apply one strong application.
To improve the quality of soil and feed at the same time, it is a good idea to apply a mulch of well-rotted manure. This can be purchased pre-packed in garden centres. It is most beneficial when applied in autumn, allowing the winter weather time to work on it.
Bord Bia It’s Garden Time
With thanks to Bord Bia for this article. For more information on Bord Bia and for further gardening tips and advice, visit http://www.bordbia.ie/consumer/gardening/itsgardentime/pages/gardentips.aspx
When pruning, you should cut out all dead and diseased growth. Also, cut back all of last year’s growth to between 2 and 4 buds above the ground. Try to select outward-facing buds. This will encourage a more pleasing shape and helps avoid tangled stems.
With climbing roses you will need to remove any stems growing in the wrong direction, but rather than cutting hard to the ground you will need to tidy the plant back to the wall.
Dead-Heading
Dead-heading roses is very important and by carrying out this practice you can guarantee yourself extra flowers. By removing the dead flowers, you are preventing energy going into developing seedheads. When the flowers have faded, cut the stem 3-4 leaves below the flower. This will ensure a new flowering shoot, which will bring you extra colour a little later. There is no need to remove dead flowers on roses which are grown for their decorative hips or roses which are only once-flowering.
Feeding
Roses provide a fantastic display and offer superb value for money. But to get the very best from your rose and to guarantee a healthy show of flowers, it is essential that you feed on a regular basis. Rose blossoms make a great demand on the plant and so supplementing with feeding ensures a good crop.
The most popular rose feeds, which are widely available, are granular fertilisers. These contain a special blend of nutrients, including magnesium,which is very important to roses. This blend is specially formulated to give the rose everything it needs to perform well. These granular feeds should only be used while the rose is in active growth. They do not contribute to improving the soil but act quickly by feeding the rose. Liquid fertilisers are also available. These are an excellent choice for quick feeding. It is advisable to feed on a regular basis, following instructions. It is best to use little and often rather than apply one strong application.
To improve the quality of soil and feed at the same time, it is a good idea to apply a mulch of well-rotted manure. This can be purchased pre-packed in garden centres. It is most beneficial when applied in autumn, allowing the winter weather time to work on it.
Bord Bia It’s Garden Time
With thanks to Bord Bia for this article. For more information on Bord Bia and for further gardening tips and advice, visit http://www.bordbia.ie/consumer/gardening/itsgardentime/pages/gardentips.aspx 
