Rose and Shrub Care
Garden shrubs and roses are getting ready to perform for the season. It’s important to encourage plenty of new growth and to protect these fresh, vulnerable shoots from pests.
Many shrubs can be pruned in April. Dogwoods (Cornus) respond particularly well to hard pruning, as this encourages plenty of fresh coloured stems to develop.
Spring flowering shrubs such as Forsythia, flowering currants, Weigela, Deutzia and early Clematis should all be pruned after flowering as they all actually flower on stems made last year. If you remove these stems before the flowers have opened you will stop the plants from flowering this season.
Plants that flower on this year’s stems should be pruned in early spring to encourage plenty of new growth and flowers this season, these include Roses, the butterfly bush (Buddleia), Hydrangea paniculata, and Caryopteris. Feed after pruning with Rose & Shrub Plant Food.
After heavy rainfall or when the ground is still wet from the winter rain, mulch around garden shrubs and roses. Smaller areas and ornamental beds such as rose borders look better with a finer mulch such as Decorative Mini Bark. Large shrub borders merit a larger mulch such as Bed and Border Chipped Bark or Golden Pine Bark.
Toughen up existing roses and shrubs and help them to become more resistant to adverse weather and plant diseases by treating them to a tonic of Sulphate of Potash. This traditional formula is well known by experienced gardeners to encourage stems to ripen and mature and also to promote healthy growth and flower production.
Keep a watch on early shoots for the first signs of pests. Many pests such as aphids coincide their lifecycles with the growth pattern of your plants, so as your roses and shrubs burst into growth this provides vital food for the first generations of this year’s pests. Be vigilant and deal with them as soon as you see them with your preferred method of attack. Plant Rescue Bug Killer for Flowering Plants offers long-term protection to your container plants with its systemic action that will persist for long lasting control/protection. It controls existing pest problems and also stays effective for new pests and tackles any hidden pests.
If you want to garden organically be sure to feed the birds to encourage them into the garden, order some ladybird and lacewing larvae ready to release them next month and plant plenty of brightly flowered annuals to attract beneficial insects into the garden.
