BBC presenter Monty Don has shared his tips and tricks on taking care of one beloved plant, which will need attention this month to thrive.
Sharing his knowledge for fellow green-fingered gardeners on his blog, Don said that climbing roses need to be “pruned hard now”.
However, Don reassured gardeners who keep rambling roses that they can take a break from this task, as their flowers are produced on shoots grown the previous summer, and need to be tackled immediately after flowering.
Rose keepers should begin by removing any damaged or crossing stems, along with any old wood which can be “pruned right back to the ground”.
The Mirror reports that Don “stressed” the importance of wearing protective clothing during the task, including protective eyewear.
The main stems of the plant should be “fanned out” equidistant from one another, as horizontally as possible.
If gardeners are having trouble with this intricate task, Don suggests deploying some wires or a trellis to help position.
“Then all the side shoots growing from these main stems – which produced this year’s flowers -can be reduced to a short stub of a couple of leaves,” Don added.
“The effect should be a tracery of largely horizontal growth with pruned side-shoots running along their length.
“Finally make sure it is all tied firmly in to avoid winter damage.”
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The Royal Horticultural Society says climbing roses can be given a “boost” in the following spring by spreading a granular rose fertiliser over the soil, and then “mulch them” with a thin layer of compost or manure.
According to BBC’s Gardener’s World Magazine, ordinary roses are usually at their best between June and August, but will require attention from September until the end of the year.
To keep a rose looking its best and prevent any damage, “soggy” and shrivelled flowers should get the chop, to prevent any rot from setting in.
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Any foliage showing signs of mildew or rust also needs to go, to prevent disease spreading.
For those looking to transport their rose to a different area of the garden, the magazine says Autumn is a good time to do it, along with establishing new plants that will have time to develop before Winter arrives.
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