How to get the best roses

Nurture now for a summer of colour and scent, says Ruth

- Ruth Hayes

THIS is a key time of year for roses, because if you give them a good, healthy start it will help them to flourish well intothe autumn.

It is time to give shrub varieties their annual hard prune as they can take, and will respond well to, a severe trim. I cut back our old floribunda rose to ankle level this time last year, and it bloomed better than ever, and on strongerstems, from last summer right through to November.

Climbing roses can also be pruned now, and you can remove some of the oldest stems from well established plants to make room for new growth. Tie in new shoots and prune flowered stemss back by a third.

Rambling roses should be left alone until after they have flowered in summer.

When pruning, always remove dead, diseased and weak growth as well as any shoots directedinwards as they will simply clutter up the plant. Rub off inward-facing buds too.