a recent issue of Spadework - Cardiganshire Horticultural Society

Here in Ceredigion conditions are rather acid, so it is extremely
important to form a moisture-holding soil with a pH of 6 to 7.
Gareth improves his soil with good farmyard manure and raises the
pH by adding calcified seaweed: 4 ounces per square metre of
border raises the pH by one, and lasts for several years.
Buy bare-rooted roses in February and look for sturdy growth
with 2 to 4 shoots; thereafter, buy container roses (which are
slightly more expensive). Recommended firms are C. & K. Jones,
Austins and Friars of Knutsford. When planting, make a generous
hole, and sprinkle in blood, fish and bone – remembering that it is
the fine fibrous roots that create growth and absorb water. The
budding tip where the graft is should be ½ inch below the ground.
Climbers should be pruned in January or February. As new
growth becomes apparent, bend over and tie in their shoots.
Floribundas should be pruned at the beginning of March. Cut out
dead wood and open up the centre of the bush, pruning down from
about 4 feet to 18 inches. Use sharp secateurs and not a hedge
trimmer. Then continue with Hybrid Teas, which can be cut right
down to 4 inches without detracting from this year’s flowers, but
remembering that they are greedy feeders. Single-flowering
ramblers should be pruned after flowering, as they bloom on the
current year’s growth.
To contain black spot Gareth uses a chemical spray once a
month from April onwards. He recommends Dithane 945.
He showed us slides of exhibits at Chelsea and other flower
shows, as well as of many different types of rose. The slides
covered many well-known gardens such as Austins, Mottisfont,
Sudeley Castle, Abbey Garden at Malmesbury, Wisley, RHS
Rosemoor, St Alban’s and Powis Castle, and also some
commercial rose fields.
Assisted by his wife Eirona, Gareth gave us an absorbing talk
and convinced us that the flower we love the best of all is well
worth growing. The following list contains the selected varieties of
roses he recommends from his long experience in this field.
Joy Neal
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