Rose pruning

Rose pruning is one of my favourite activities. Actually, I love pruning in general, but at this time of year it's roses I find myself working on most.

When I moved to my current house, I inherited a neglected garden that had some sad-looking shrubs pressed against the boundaries, and a shedload of roses that hadn't been pruned in years. For many of them, I couldn't figure out what they were - floribundas, shrubs, or even climbers. Some I assumed were climbers simply because they were planted pretty close to a fence or wall, and this proved a good assumption.

Roses are generous in their response to radical pruning. For the 'assumed' climbers, I cut out about one third of the existing branches. I retained the rest, tying them in and trimming their side branches to about four inches. In spring, I fed with blood, fish and bone and waited... They responded brilliantly - I still find it amazing when you see fresh new growth emerging from the soil, or from an old stump. I took a similar approach with the freestanding roses, and they all look much happier for it.

Since then, I've come across gardens where the roses needed the same radical treatment and they have always responded well. It's better to be brave with your pruning than too timid.