A few milder days this week which makes the rose pruning a more comfortable experience. I thought I would touch on the pruning of rose types this week. Concentrate on clearing the center of the bush, remove all inward facing branches at an outward facing bud, prune height back by two thirds and remove any really old and damaged branches. Brush old gnarly rose centers with a wire brush to stimulate and encourage new budding.
Rose types.
Floribunda bush roses these display clusters of blooms like iceberg need a few older branches taken right back each year to encourage new strong branching and newer branches taken back by two thirds.
Hybrid tea bush roses: These are the roses that can grow exhibition blooms, they can be pruned back quite hard to an outward facing bud.
Standard bush roses: Roses grafted onto a tall standard trunk: prune same as bush roses.
Climbing roses: These roses flower at their best when the branches are trained horizontally along a fence or wall, they develop small branches along the length of the trained branch and give a brilliant show. After a number of years these long horizontal branches will need to be removed and replace by a softer new branch, be careful not to damage this soft wood, train gently out to take the place of the removed old wood. The new branch will bud up quickly sending out small outward growing branches to harden off in a couple of years. Prune these outward growing branches back to the second outward facing bud from the bottom.
Pillar roses; The best type to climb up and be trained over an arch or pergola. I cut the old growth back off these with a hedge trimmer.
Fairy rose and flower carpet roses: If big and bushy I also cut back with a hedge trimmer but open them up by removing branches from the middle with secateurs, if still manageable secateurs do the job.
The bulk of new seasons bare rooted deciduous trees are arriving into retail shops now, I have noticed a good selection of fruit trees ready for planting. If you have room for only one or two trees in a new garden consider planting a fruit tree getting not only the beautiful blossom display in spring but the bonus of fresh fruit. An apricot tree grows into a lovely specimen where space is available, 2m high by 4m wide needing a sunny spot to ripen fruit.
Malus ( crab apple) would be a beautiful addition to a garden, most are a nice shape that blossom profusely in Spring and do not grow as large as flowering cherries. I have seen stunning examples around town this winter flaunting bright red fruit on bare branches.
Nectarine and peach trees are a manageable size for a garden, very beautiful when in blossom but on the down side susceptible to leaf curl. However the wonderful leaf curl resistant peach Sweet Perfection raised by Duntroon couple Helen Brooks & Terry Fowler is a winner as is nectarine Mabel named for a Waikato gardener who discovered this natural hybrid of a blackboy peach in her garden. The fruit I am told is delicious and quite dramatic looking, purple skin with a pale yellow flesh and new leaf growth being purple makes this tree an interesting contrast to other trees. (nectarines are self-fertile). I am on the look out for one of these!
With so many decidous and evergreen trees and shrubs on offer right now, make sure to read the labels and know how high and wide a shrub or tree will grow. Some, especially natives grow fast and when mature will throw considerable shade if planted along side the house, it pays to ask advice.
Compost heaps are working slowly now but worms will still be working as long as there is adequate moisture. Heaps can be kept warmer by being covered, I use straw which lets the rain in.
Boost bedding plants with fish based fertiliser or a little dried blood and bone to encourage buds during sunny winter days.
Veg: Keep planting on mild days but be ready to cover when temperatures drop as they have, and will again before this winter is over.
Fruit: There are some really well grown citrus shrubs are on offer in garden centres right now and couldn't resist buying a Mayer lemon, it has the look of being taken straight from a tunnel house so will need to protect it with frost cloth until winter is over,
Cheers, Linda.
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