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Ragedy, skinny, leggy rose bushes

My mum and dad's garden has a lot of roses. But most of them are in a sorry state. Here are some examples. 

What can I do to help them recovery, grow, flower?

Most of them have very skinny branches with few offshoots. I don't know how to prune, I am scared of making them worse. 

A lot of them were choked by wild geraniums, red roots wrapping themselves around the rose roots. I carefully removed and replanted them last summer and autumn. 

But now that they're weed-free, I want them to thrive. 


Posts

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    @Marlorena will hopefully see this tag and be able to advise you.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    edited 17 January
    Unless they have been bred as potted plants they would be better in open ground. Roses are hungry plants so whether in ground or pots feed  and mulch well.  Hard pruning stimulates growth, be brave give it a go.
    Edited to add. Make sure they are in soil based compost if keeping them in pots.
    AB Still learning

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I agree with Allotment Boy that the roses would do better in the ground but if that is not viable, then they all need a good hard prune when the current cold weather is over.
    You must be brave and cut them down by at least half, if not to 9 inches from the base.
    Weed all the pots and then when you've pruned, apply a good mulch of bagged manure around the roses, but NOT touching any stems.

    Hopefully, they will survive but if not, cut your losses and buy some new roses for your parents. If you happen to have any photos of the roses in bloom and can post them on here (reducing the photo size if possible) then we might be able to identify whether they are hybrid tea roses, floribundas or shrub roses (which have a bearing on how you prune the different types.

    Have a look at some Youtube videos on how to prune roses if you are unsure.
    Rest assured, roses are quite hard to kill and want to grow!
    Good luck.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • The soil in the pots will be exhausted by now looking at the pics. I would empty the pots out, remove as much of the soil s possible, and repot the roses in JI 3, plus a couple of handfuls of rose fertilizer. Now is a good time to do this job. Pune all of the top growth of the bushes down to an outward-growing bud, by at least half the length of each stem. It will take a year or two before the bushes bulk up.
    Roses will be happy for a year or two in pots but prefer to be in open ground. They are hungry plants so need regular feeding and the soil around them is kept clear of weeds. 
  • Thanks so much everyone. I have a plan now!!🤩
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