They can become a tangled mess if they are not looked after properly
Monty Don has shared his rose tips(Image: Olena Lialina via Getty Images)
Roses make a magnificent addition to any garden, delivering vibrant blooms for months on end. Rambling roses prove particularly popular due to their robust nature and rapid growth, characterised by their supple, arching stems.
They’re perfect for covering expansive walls or pergolas and can flourish within mature trees. But, without proper care, they can develop into a chaotic tangle producing very few flowers.
Gardening expert Monty Don has shared his guidance on maintaining these roses, with July being an optimal period to tackle them.
In his blog, Monty said: “It is very important to keep dead-heading roses as the petals fade to encourage repeat flowering, but some roses have now finished all that they are going to do this year.”
Numerous ramblers cease flowering in July, particularly across southern England. Monty clarified that varieties including Wedding Day, Paul’s Himalayan Musk or Felicite Perpetue require pruning once they’ve completed flowering.
Rambling roses need certain care(Image: Peter Burnett via Getty Images)
He said: “If you are in doubt as to whether your rose is a climber or a rambler, ramblers tend to be much more vigorous and always have a mass of small flowers that never repeat once they have finished.”
Ramblers cultivated in trees can remain unpruned except for any unruly growth. Monty noted: “However if space is limited or you are training the rose in any way, this year’s new shoots should be tied in or cut back according to the circumstance.
“Remove any damaged or very old shoots, cutting them right back to the ground.
“If training round a vertical support it is best to wind the stems in a spiral. Otherwise, the more horizontal the stems can be trained, the more flowers will be produced next year.
“Finally, tie in any loose growth and mulch well.” The RHS has also issued guidance for gardeners needing to trim their rambling roses.
It noted that late summer is typically the optimum period for pruning. The RHS said: “Renovation can be carried out at any time between late autumn and late winter.
“It is easier to see what you are doing when the rose is not in leaf, plus there is a better response from the rose, which should grow back vigorously the following spring.”
Rose blindness is a widespread issue affecting roses, distinguished by an absence of blooms. The RHS suggests this could stem from improper pruning or unfavourable growing conditions.
It added: “Rambler roses prefer well-drained, fertile soil. Many tolerate a degree of shade, although they’ll flower more abundantly in sun. Most are robust enough to withstand a windy site.”
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