Roses require a little summer lovin’
Pruning and feeding your roses now promotes stronger new growth, keeps plants healthier and sets them up for a vigorous flush of autumn blooms.
Roses are given their major prune in winter but light summer pruning now will rejuvenate your plants. After peak blooming in spring, flowers and stems tend to get smaller and weaker into summer. Pruning and feeding your roses now promotes stronger new growth, keeps plants healthier and sets them up for a vigorous flush of autumn blooms. Aim to cut off about one third of the bush. Remove dead wood, cut back any stems less than pencil thickness and thin out crowded stems. Ideally, prune to outward facing buds, keeping the centre of the bush open, but don’t stress about it – roses are tough. Remove any remaining diseased foliage, including fallen leaves, to help minimise fungal diseases. To fuel the new growth, apply a specific rose fertiliser such as Neutrog Sudden Impact for Roses or Richgro Black Marvel, then follow up with a deep soaking and renew the mulch.
It’s not too soon to peruse rose catalogues and place an order for winter delivery of bare-root roses. For inspiration, check out the past winners of official Australian rose trial gardens: nationalrosetrialgarden.net.au/award-winners and eastcoastrosetrialgarden.com/honour-board
By Any Other Name
Australian rose growers such as Treloar Roses, Swane’s, Knight’s, Ross Roses, Wagner’s, and Queensland’s Brindabella Roses release new varieties each year.
Here’s some available for winter 2024.
Q&A
Will black sapote survive and produce fruit in the Avon Valley given plenty of water through summer?
Sue Cartledge, Toodyay, WA
Also called chocolate pudding fruit, Diospyros digyna grows in warm temperate as well as sub-tropical and tropical climates. Its deep roots help it withstand dry periods. Grow in a protected position; young trees are not frost tolerant. Buy a named variety that is self-fertile, grafted or aerial layered, as some seed-grown trees are male only and will not produce fruit. Fruiting times vary, depending on the timing of rainfall or irrigation and when you prune. Annette McFarlane’s book Organic Fruit Growing in Australia has excellent information.
What plants will grow in the heavy shade beneath a very large Norfolk Island pine?
Lauren Kirk, Toowoomba, Queensland
To cope with heavy shade, as well as dry, shallow soil, look for plants that naturally grow in tree forks and branches or on rocks. These include birds nest ferns, native and exotic orchids, staghorns and elkhorns, hoyas, mistletoe cactus (Rhipsalis and Lepismium spp) and a huge range of bromeliads. Other possibilities include aspidistra, clivias and various plectranthus.
My neighbour has a beautiful wattle tree and is happy to give me cuttings. When and how should I take them?
Patricia Cowley, Perth, WA
Wattles are easiest to propagate from seeds, collected when the pods dry and split open. Improve germination by scarifying the seeds with some sandpaper, or just pour boiling water over them and leave them overnight before sowing into a free-draining propagating mix.
Send your questions to helenyoungtwig@gmail.com. The best question for February wins Fiskars’ PowerGear X Large Bypass Lopper, designed for strength and comfort, worth $145.
More Coverage
Rockmelon like you’ve never seen it before
Blend it into a chilled soup with a splash of white verjuice and a peppery oil, and the result is an elegant starter that sings of hot days and cool breezes.
The ingredient that takes Lennox Hastie back to childhood
Pair this with crumbled salty feta and a handful of herbs, and suddenly you’ve taken a familiar backyard staple and transformed it into something different.