Roses are admired for their long flowering season, rich scent, and timeless beauty. They’re remarkably adaptable, thriving in our temperate, often changeable climate when given sun, a fertile, moisture-retentive but free-draining soil, and a little shelter from prevailing winds. Whether trained over an arch or grown in a pot on a patio, there’s a rose for every space and style, from cottage borders to contemporary courtyards.
It’s easy to think of roses as summer stars, but they also bring winter structure and, in many cases, hips for wildlife. Though tempting to forget about roses once the last flush fades, gardeners are urged not to get complacent if they want brilliant flowers next year. As Andrew Mills, head gardener at Blenheim Palace, says, October is the time to “tend to roses” by pruning, particularly the climbing kind.
It’s also important to tie in the stems before autumn winds cause damage. He said, “We will be pruning down our roses by 50% in height to reduce the effects of wind rock.”
Gardeners’ World also highlights that wind rock in the cold months can loosen roots, allowing water to penetrate around the crown and set plants back in the spring.
Climbing roses are best pruned in autumn, after flowering, but it is important to leave the main framework of stems unpruned, unless they’re reaching beyond their supports.
The gardening experts suggest “simply prune the side shoots to four healthy buds”.
When pruning climbers, always cut just above a bud that points in the direction you want the new stem to grow. Avoid cutting above a bud that will direct growth to the garden path, for example.
Gardening maestros like Monty Don suggest saving the main pruning for late winter or early spring (December to February/March), when the plant is dormant and leafless, making it easier to see the structure.
Rambling roses are not the same as climbers and don’t need pruning in October. The Royal Horticultural Society recommends the main pruning time to be shortly after flowering in the summer.
In autumn, the focus is on tidying, removing any dead or damaged stems, and securing new growth.
Miniature and patio roses, as well as shrub roses, including English/David Austin types, benefit from a light trim in October to reduce height and wind leverage, with the main pruning for shape and renewal reserved for late winter.
Gardeners growing hybrid tea or floribunda roses should wait until late winter to prune. However, they may benefit from a light ‘de-sail’ in October to protect them from harsh winds.
Given the time of year, roses also benefit from some damage control in the form of disease prevention.
It is worthwhile removing any remaining foliage that shows signs of disease, such as black spot, mildew, or rust, when pruning your roses, according to Gardener’s World.
They also suggest collecting any infected leaves that have fallen onto the ground, as these can carry over diseases from one year to the next.