Which Roses?
By Stella170
Shropshire,
United Kingdom 
I've recently moved into a new home with a fantastic garden that has had lots done to it by previous occupants. Problem is they've planted loads of different roses of varying types. Very tall spindly types, short but wide spreading miniatures and a very large climber, along with some very unhealthy little stumps! Can anyone tell me a way to identify these? How do you prune something that you know nothing about? I'm completely new to serious gardening but really keen to learn as much as I can!
10 Aug, 2009
Answers
It sounds as though the roses you have need feeding and pruning properly. Some may be too old to worry about. Prune in the autumn or spring. Mulch now with some good compost, spray with fungicide, also the ground around them. Feed in March and June with a good rosefeed.
10 Aug, 2009
Another GOYer mentioned a fab book about roses to me and if I can find the name will recomend to you too
bare with me
x x x
10 Aug, 2009
found it but not my copy grrr
D. G. Hessayon's The Rose Expert
its brilliant and has helped me no end, think my mother may have nabbed it
x x x
10 Aug, 2009
Thanks to all for the help! I have the Rose Expert and it has helped hughly but am still stuck trying to identify some of them. Also which is the best feed and fungicide to use?
14 Aug, 2009
Stella, Top Rose fertilizer March and June. Mulch with well rotted manure after pruning in March. Bone Meal in the autumn. Any fungicide which will cover black spot.
14 Aug, 2009
They will all need a good prune in late Autumn/winter. You can't go too far wrong if you cut all branches down to about 12 inches, especially the spindly ones. Take out some of the older, darker wood branches right down to their base to encourage new shoots next year. Then remove a third of the older branches in subsequent years.Give them a good feed and mulch with compost. Be firm!
10 Aug, 2009