From pruning roses to purchasing plug plants, Dennis sows some seasonal gardening tips.
At this time of year, the first signs of new life begin to appear. Buds form on branches and on fruit trees – a reminder that spring is on its way.
Love the video of my greenhouse! 🌿
Plug Plants
I’ve picked up some plug plants from the local garden centre – such an easy way to get your summer bedding started. This year I’ve gone for marigolds and petunias, planting them into seed trays with fresh compost to grow on.
There was a great variety of plug plants available – a simple, reliable alternative to sowing from seed. If you have a greenhouse, I’d really recommend it. I do this every year and it’s so exciting watching them grow, ready to plant out in May.
Pruning Roses
Now is the time to prune roses – in February or March – while dormant to stimulate Spring growth, improve air circulation, and encourage blooms. Focus on removing dead, diseased, or crossing branches, cutting just above an outward-facing bud. Reduce overall size by 1/3 to 1/2 for shrub roses and apply fertilizer and mulch.
Key Rose Pruning Tasks
Timing: Late winter (Feb/Mar) is ideal when the plant is dormant but harsh frosts have passed.
Technique: Use sharp, clean secateurs to make slanted cuts above an outward-facing bud.
The “Three Ds”: Remove all Dead, Damaged, or Diseased stems completely.
Structure: Remove inward-growing, thin, or spindly stems to open up the centre for sunlight.
Variety Specifics:
Bush/Shrub Roses: Reduce stems by one-third to a half.
Climbing Roses: Remove only damaged stems, shorten long, flowered side-shoots, and tie in new, healthy, horizontal growth.
Rambling Roses: Prune after flowering in summer, focusing on reducing long, flowered side-shoots.
(2in) layer of mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
For older, congested roses, you can be more ruthless, cutting them back to roughly from the ground to encourage new, vigorous growth.
Post-Pruning Care
Feed with a general-purpose or specialized rose fertilizer and apply.
I would suggest you buy blood fish and bone fertilizer from the garden centre; one handful to each rosebush.
Sit back and wait for the first flush of blooms in Spring!