Gardening expert Monty Don has shared a top tip for gardeners who want to keep their roses flowering for longer, and it’s a job that needs to be done daily
Roses are treasured by many green-fingered enthusiasts for the stunning spectacle they present when in full bloom. Gardening expert Monty Don has highlighted a key task that should be performed daily to help these cherished plants “carry more flowers”. In his blog, where he offers monthly gardening tips, Monty declared that people simply cannot herald the month of June without mentioning roses.
He shared with his followers that he’s increasingly opting for English roses that offer repeat flowering, therefore prolonging their beauty beyond the peak of June. Monty then divulged his “secret” to cultivating roses that boast a longer blooming period, reports the Express.
His advice was clear: “The secret of keeping any rose flowering as long as possible is to deadhead daily.” Deadheading involves removing wilted blooms to promote further flowering and enhance both the look and structure of the rose.
For roses, arguably the most emblematic and enchanting of garden flora, consistent deadheading is crucial to maintain their opulent display throughout the season.
This practice not only keeps the roses looking pristine but also helps stave off diseases and pests that tend to target decaying petals and hips.
Monty stressed that gardeners should avoid merely plucking off dead petals; instead, they should use secateurs to cut the spent stem back to the next leaf or bud below, no matter how far down it might be.
Monty highlighted the benefit of deadheading, stating it would “provoke a side-shoot which in turn will carry more flowers”. He advised gardeners to regularly deadhead repeat-flowering shrub roses and those once-flowerers that don’t bear hips.
Furthermore, Monty emphasised the importance of continuing this practice well into July. He explained: “It is very important to keep deadheading roses in July as the petals fade to encourage repeat flowering, but some roses will have now finished all that they are going to do this year.”