Gardeners urged to prune roses very soon otherwise there will be 'very few flowers'

Taking special care of your garden roses during autumn can make the difference for their survival through winter's chill and set them up to bloom gloriously come spring. Autumn is a crucial time for certain rose types, as proper pruning ensures they'll flourish and deliver a stunning floral display each year. While general advice suggests that rose pruning should happen between January and February, climbing roses need more specific timing for snipping.

The Royal Horticultural Society warns: "If left, climbing roses can become a tangled mess of branches with very few flowers." Pruning may seem intimidating to some green thumbs, but it's straightforward once you get the hang of the guidelines, reports the Express . Kick off by discarding any branches that are dead or diseased, then secure any new shoots requiring support.



Next, trim back flowering side shoots to about one third of their original length. October is the prime time for pruning climbing roses, just as their blooms begin to fade and shrivel. Thompson and Morgan also advise: "Prune rambling and climbing roses once they've finished flowering, and tie in the stems before autumn winds cause damage.

" Another vital step in garden upkeep is leaf removal near the plant's base to prevent disease onset, as these experts highlight on their website. Don't forget to clean up those fallen rose leaves to stop diseases like black spot from taking hold over the winter, they add. Black spot, the notorious disease caused by the fungus Diplocarpon rosae, is renowned as the most destructive ailment to plague roses.

The malady gradually saps the strength of the plant, with the leaves typically exhibiting the initial symptoms of distress. RHS specialists have clarified: "Expect to see leaf markings from spring, which will persist as long as the leaves remain on the plant." Green-fingered enthusiasts are recommended to inspect any lingering leaves on their rose bushes for disease indicators and to promptly remove and dispose of them.

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