Come up smelling of roses

By Kath Gannaway
THE first thing to know about pruning roses is “you can’t kill a rose by pruning it”.
Those reassuring words from Healesville Garden Club president and veteran rose-grower Charles Hort are good news for anyone who has been procrastinating over a job which for many new gardeners, and some experienced, can be daunting. The aim of the winter prune is to get a beautiful crop of summer blooms and a vigorous pruning, along with a good feed of fertiliser in spring and a companion crop of garlic, gets results according to Mr Hort.
Start with a sharp pair of secateurs and a sturdy garden glove.
“You have to keep the bush open in the centre. If wind can’t blow through, the bush will be susceptible to diseases such as rust,” said Mr Hort who provided the accompanying simple three-step guide to a perfect prune!
It’s important not to fertilise roses until they start to grow in the spring. Mr Hort’s proven formula is two containers of chook pellets to one cup of blood and bone for each rose bush. Russian Garlic, which is not as strong as other varieties, has proved a good companion for Mr Hort’s roses, and the benefits flow from the rose garden to the kitchen! What about aphids?
“You’ll always get aphids in spring,” he said. “Unless it’s a really big infestation, I don’t worry about them.”
If your roses do start to wilt under the weight of the little blighters, Mr Hort recommends a good dousing of sudsy water from your washing machine.
“That usually does the trick,” he said.