Roses will bloom brilliantly if simple 15-minute gardening job is done in October (Image: Getty)
Autumn is now here and many gardeners may be thinking of purring away their shears for the rest of the year, but there is one task that could help roses bloom brilliantly if done soon.
, a best known for presenting Gardener’s World, has shared that October is the best time to trim any climbing you have growing on fences around your .
On his , Monty said: “Climbing roses on shoots grown the same spring so they can be pruned hard now.
“Rambling roses on the other hand produce their flowers on shoots grown the previous summer so should only be pruned immediately after flowering.”
Why prune climbing roses in October?
Pruning climbing roses may seem like a daunting task but does not have to be tricky, and if done sometime in October it can help these beautiful flowers become even bigger next year.
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Start by removing any damaged-looking stems or stems (Image: Getty)
When climbing roses are properly pruned it means the plant is spending less time on dying blooms and will reserve its energy, so it is more likely to have stronger flowers in its next growing season.
Taking the time to prune now will also remove any dying or damaged stems from the plant which can prevent pests and reduce the risk of many fungal diseases common in autumn.
It can also stop climbing roses from becoming tangled and hard to maintain during winter so you do not have to spend lots of time next year trying to cut it back.
How to prune climbing roses in October
Start by removing any damaged-looking stems or stems which are crossing and risk becoming overgrowth in the future.
If the stems are green inside when you cut them, then that is healthy growth and should be left alone.
Make sure to get rid of any weak or spindly stems as well which are unlikely to be able to hold any big flowers on it.
After pruning, make sure to clean up any fallen leaves or stems as dying foliage can attract pests to a garden (Image: Getty)
Then shape the plant so there is plenty of air circulation and sunlight can reach evert part of the plant.
Monty said: “The main stems should be fanned out at an equidistance as horizontally as possible, tying them to wires or a trellis.
“Then all the side shoots growing from these main stems – which produced this year’s flowers – can be reduced to a short stub of a couple of leaves.
“The effect should be a tracery of largely horizontal growth with pruned side-shoots running along their length. Finally make sure it is all tied firmly in to avoid winter damage.”
After pruning, make sure to clean up any fallen leaves or stems as dying foliage can attract pests to a garden.
It should take roughly 15 to 30 minutes to prune your climbing roses but may take longer depending on how big the plant is.
However, this simple task will help prepare climbing roses for winter and help you have bigger healthier flowers in the new year.