Before you begin the task of pruning your roses ensure that your secateurs and pruning saw are sharp and in good order.
Gloves are a must as many roses have vicious thorns and you will need to grasp them as you cut.
Do not prune your roses too early, from the middle of July is soon enough, roses forced into early growth are susceptible to frost damage during winter.

1. Remove all twiggy growth, that is any growth which is less than pencil thickness, unless you are pruning small floribunda or miniature roses.
2. Remove any dead wood or wood in which dieback is present. Die back is a blackening in the centre of the stem which must be removed below the affected area in order to prevent loss of the entire stem.
3. Remove any branches which are crossing or rubbing against other branches.
4. If you are unsure it is better to leave the wood on the bush, you can always remove it later when growth develops and it becomes obvious whether it should be retained or not.
5. Bushes can be left at this stage, however though they will bloom profusely blooms will be smaller and short stemmed.
6. Moderate pruning requires that about ten canes are left on the bush. Prune canes back about one third to an outward facing bud or eye. When deciding which canes to remove choose the oldest (usually grey) canes first retaining young and healthy canes. Make your cut at about 45 degree angle about 6mm above a swelling bud eye.
7. Severe pruning leaves fewer canes per bush which are often cut down to about 30cm.
8. When pruning is complete it is vital to clean up all prunings, foliage twigs and canes and either burn or dispose of them in garbage.
9. Spray bushes and ground beneath them with lime sulphur to minimise the risk of fungal disease.

Species and Once Blooming Old Roses.

1. Remove any dead or twiggy growth regardless of the season.
2. Prune immediately after flowering to encourage new growth on which next season’s flowers will blossom.

Climbing Roses

1. Climbing roses require little pruning for the first few years of growth.
2. Once canes develop it is important to train them to grow in a horizontal position. Climbers which are not trained in this way will flower only at the top of the cane, when grown with their tips pointed downward they will flower all along the length of the cane.
3. Remove any dead or twiggy growth.
4. Shorten canes to keep growth within bounds.
5. Trim back the laterals i.e. the stems which grow from the main canes leaving 2 or 3 eyebuds.

Ramblers.

1. Rambling roses generally blossom once during the season`and as they are rampant growers need only older basal growth removed after flowering, this does not include the Banksia roses which are usually left unpruned.

Weeping Standard. Roses.

1. Do not prune weeping standards too severely or your plant will become too bushy.
2. Cut back tips and thin growth if necessary.

Standard Roses.

1. Prune standard roses as for bush roses in a vase shape taking care to ensure your standard does not become top heavy.
2. Prune to an outward facing bud as it is important to keep the head of your standard shapely

Enjoy the rain, enjoy the garden, more news and plants next month,

Happy Gardening

Almonds
Almonds grow into quite large trees, like a well drained soil, and should be winter pruned to encourage a low growth profile, and to develop as many branches on the tree as possible.
The variety “Brand’s Jordon” has very upright growth.
The first of the stone fruits to flower, they are susceptible to midwinter and early spring frosts which may kill the flowers.
Most almonds are self infertile and need two different cultivars for pollination, however there is one cultivar available which is self fertile.
Water your tree well after planting with a seaweed solution to encourage the roots to establish.
Harvest when the outside husk begins to split at the end of summer and store in a cool dry place.
Almonds supply B group vitamins, vitamin E as well as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, folic acid, amino acids and protein.

Chestnuts
Chestnuts are attractive trees providing shade in summer and glorious autumn colour, large at maturity they respond well to pruning to reduce tree size.
They need well drained soil and will not tolerate water logging.
Nuts are enclosed in a prickly husk which are harvested when they fall from the tree.
They have a lower fat content than other nuts and contain protein, amino acids, vitamins E, C, and the B group as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper.
They also provide calcium, potassium, zinc and selenium.

Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana)
A bush or small tree, hazelnuts have both male and female flowers.
All species are self infertile therefore need another plant nearby to produce nuts.
Best in areas which have cold winters and cooler summers and a dry autumn during the harvest months.
They like well drained fertile soil and can be planted 3-4m apart or grown as a hedge.
Mulch well and provide summer watering when nuts are forming.
Moisture stress and strong winds are not well tolerated.
Rich in vitamin E, they also supply the B group vitamins, calcium and potassium, zinc and selenium.
Harvest when the nuts fall from the tree

Walnuts (Juglans spp)
Walnut trees require a warm summer and cool winter and deep well drained soil. In heavy clay soils they should be planted on a mound to ensure adequate drainage.
Water in well with seaweed fertilizer to encourage root formation.
High in fats and oil they provide phosphorus, calcium, potassium, vitamin A, C, E and the B group vitamins.
Harvest when the husks split from the shell or as they fall from the tree.
Still time to plant fruit trees so get in quickly before stock becomes depleted and the opportunity is lost until next year.

Spray all stone fruits with Bordeaux as buds begin to swell, this is probably the most important time to spray fruit.

Now is an excellent time to organize stocks of mulch in readiness for spring and the warmer months to follow.
Check stakes on trees and shrubs in preparation for the stronger winds at this time of the year.
A good time also to check irrigation systems are in good working order.

Gardeners have been heartened by the sight of puddles and the increased rain this month.
Rug up, put on the gum boots and like your plants enjoy the winter weather.