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Does this rose need surgery?

NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
in Plants
My RD Braithwaite, planted just over a year ago, grew vigorously, was leafy, healthy and bloomed endlessly. After battling blackspot for most of this extremely wet year, I sprayed with a neem oil solution, then it suddenly got very sunny and all the leaves crisped and dropped. I tried milk solution but that didn’t help either. It now looks like this:


The blackspot keeps coming, there is new growth at the top but no sign on the bottom two thirds so it looks leggy and unattractive. I am thinking I should cut it down by around two thirds, getting rid of the unhealthy top bits and hopefully encouraging it to shoot again from the base. Is this a good idea? Would it be ok to do this now?

I am reluctant to spray it with a fungicide or anything else after my neem experience in case it makes things even worse!

Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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  • jblockhartjblockhart Posts: 32
    I used to be very careful about the time of year of pruning and how I pruned every stem of my roses. But after seeing a neighbour take an electric hedge clipper to his roses only to have an outstanding display year-after-year, I am becoming more relaxed about pruning roses anytime of year if something doesn't look healthy or is woody and unattractive. I still use secaturs and am careful to cut diagonally near a bud, but I have just yesterday done some pruning of unproductive stems and the roses seem to appreciate not having to support the struggling branches. I reckon that the energy is then directed to the healthy growth. I have no horticultural evidence that this is correct, but my own experience is that it works.
    James
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I wouldn't cut hard back at this time of year ... you'll lose all this season's flowers.  I'd give it a bit of a feed and watering and let it be.  It should soon start putting on some new leaves where the old ones were 'fried in hot oil'  ;) ... but a bit of extra feed will give it the energy to do so.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    That happened to a couple of mine last year, Summer Song and Lady of Shallot. I pruned the top third off, sprayed with fungicide and fed them. They went on to produce a lovely flush of roses at the end of summer.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Thanks for the advice everyone. I did feed it a few weeks ago when the problem started, post fry-up, Dove, kept clearing up the mess underneath and and have replaced the mulch around it three times now, but still no sign of new growth apart from at the top heavy tips. It is looking very unhappy so I think I would be prepared to lose the blooms (I have some stuff I can plant in front to disguise the temporary lack in the border) if it would improve its health and strength longer-term.

    It’s good to know it worked for you Jblockhart and Busy- Lizzie. I did cut it back a few times in between flushes last year, as it was growing like topsy, to no ill effect, but what I am now contemplating is a bit more radical - I guess I just need to decide if I am brave enough to go for it!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Jason-3Jason-3 Posts: 391
    Nollie given where you are in the world I would imagine with the correct amount of watering you could probably get away with a hard prune and still get a decent amount of flowers in a few months
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Well I have bit the bullet and chopped it right back and sprayed it with fungicide so thanks everyone for your encouragement! It gets copious amounts of water and is pretty vigourous for its tender age, so fingers crossed xx
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    UPDATE: 

    A month after the severe chop (to about 20cm high) this is how RDB looks now, it’s put on more than 30cm of new growth from the base:



    Amazing what happens in your absence when you are away on holiday!

    Thanks again to all for your original advice and encouragement.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Jason-3Jason-3 Posts: 391
    Looks much healthier 😉
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Good idea to keep the middle clear, like a upside down umbrella, that will make a good airflo through it. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Cheers Jason, i’m relieved it worked. Thanks Lyn, will snip out a few of the new shoots in the centre.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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