Roses

midnight42, Apr 5, 8:55pm
Should I keep deadheading the roses.A friend said not too but they look so untidy!

wheelz, Apr 6, 2:38am
Apparently we are supposed to let them be now, strengthens the canes.
As when you deadhead, the bush wants to push out more blooms, when very soon it should be going dormant.
I too struggle with wanting them to look tidy.

shanreagh, Apr 6, 2:52am
I just take off the really dead twigs now. snap them off and use as kindling. Don't touch any growing canes.

brightlights60, Apr 6, 5:53am
Been growing them 35 years and never heard that one! By all means keep them tidy. I cut my flowers off, usually to the next 5 leafed joint (slightly above it) as to the length I want. Just cut what will be one of our last bunches of the season, beautiful! I take all the flowers off, and then leave the growth till around August. Many people prune in June or July, but I find the later its left (depends on what part of the country you are in as well, we are Chch) the better growth the next season.After a very hard prune, of 2/3 of the bush, we get almost 6ft growth in roses next season. Lots of nice fresh compost, and we use coconut fibre as a mulch to help keep in all the water over Summer.

wheelz, Feb 10, 4:48am
I have been growing roses too for over 35 years, only just read about not deadheading coming into winter in the last few years.

http://www.mooresvalleynurseries.co.nz/page/rose-care.aspx http://www.regannursery.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.showpage/pageid/62/index.htm

And also on some advice given by a renown rose breeder and grower.