Prune now, enjoy later

June is not the official month to prune roses. However, early blooming varieties count as an exception, and all roses will benefit from a minor summer overhaul.

Among early climbers, the everpopular Banksian varieties (pictured right) will have flowered in May and have long stems. Begin by removing the oldest or weakest of those, cutting low down on the plant.

Tie all the remaining stems gently into place. new ones will develop over summer and will also need tying into position.

Remember, long stems flower more freely if flexed sideways or arched before being secured. With non-repeat flowering shrub roses, pruning is only necessary if you want to limit a plant’s size. Shorten any over-long stems, cutting each just above an n outward- facing bud. Remove damaged stems and thin out any y that have become tangled.

Don’t prune shrub roses prized for autumn hips. Plants which h have grown too large can be tidied by removing some of the oldest and weakest stems.

You can shorten over- long g stems, too, and postpone severe pruning until winter.

Repeat-flowering roses need not be pruned in summer, but remove dead blooms, always cutting just above an outward-facing bud.

Pick off any leaves affected by y black spot or rust disease. Repeatflowering roses will reward you with a vigorous second flush, blooming freely until autumn.