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very old rose
This rose was old when we moved here twenty years ago.
It has been shamefully neglected but has flowered valiantly every year down the GoS end of the garden . I don't know what it's called but it has paleish pink flowers - not single
I know I should dig it up, but I can't bring myself to do it.
I would appreciate some advice on pruning as I don't want to kill it with tough love.
In London. Keen but lazy.
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The green bits you have look healthy enough so I reckon you can keep it going a good while yet. Cut out all that dead, grey wood as soon as you can. If your garden is windy, cut back the tallest green stems by at least a third and then work some bonemeal into the soil around the roots and mulch it with good garden compost or well rotted manure once you've had some decent rain.
Next spring, cut out any broken or damaged or crossing stems and cut the reminder back to an outward facing bud. Feed generously with slow release rose fertiliser and an instant liquid tonic of tomato food.
It should recover well and flower for years to come if you look after it.
The green bits you have look healthy enough so I reckon you can keep it going a good while yet. Cut out all that dead, grey wood as soon as you can. If your garden is windy, cut back the tallest green stems by at least a third and then work some bonemeal into the soil around the roots and mulch it with good garden compost or well rotted manure once you've had some decent rain.
Next spring, cut out any broken or damaged or crossing stems and cut the reminder back to an outward facing bud. Feed generously with slow release rose fertiliser and an instant liquid tonic of tomato food. Take cuttings if you want some insurance. There's info on the RHS website.
It should recover well and flower for years to come if you look after it.
Is it grafted?
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Tetley you give me hope of redemption.. Obelyxx, it's sheltered and I realise now it's worth and possible to save. Raisin, I doubt it's grafted as the shoots from the ground produce true blooms.
Thanks all. I now feel motivated to save this fossil. It's not in the way of anything. I will post later to let you know how the old dear is getting on.
There are softie gardeners and there are slash and kill. I'm the former. It doesn't make for the neat show garden though
Aym, I Will have a go at some cuttings. I've never tried it before but I would prefer if the old girl was rejuvenated. She's not in the way at the moment.
To my shame Aym this is true, but I was clearing the patch around her,. You can see the detritus if you look carefully and I got the guilts. I have an Irish background so it's in the genes
I'm moving up the garden now that I've discovered mosquito kryptonite aka ASSS.. Was only able to go half way up the garden after midday. Now I'm excavating dry stone walls under the ivy. and ancient roses. Who knows what else I Will find. I know there's a birdbath up there because I saw it about ten years ago.
I always knew they were there but couldn't go down the shady end because I would get eaten alive by anything that took a fancy to me. It's really only this year since I discovered kryptonite jollop that I've been able to make incursions into the ivy jungle. Fortunately, I haven't found anything more sinister down there as yet.
What's a walking aid? And what's malos beauty?