Garden Q&A: I never got around to pruning my roses in winter. Is it too late now?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions    

Our mild, damp climate creates perfect conditions for the development of fungal problems, blackspot, rust and mildew in roses and good pruning is one of the most effective ways to combat it, writes Peter Dowdall. File picture

Question

I never got around to pruning my roses over winter. Is it too late now, or can I still cut them back?

Answer

Ideally, rose pruning is done before the end of February, but this is one of those jobs that is better done late than not at all.

Our mild, damp climate creates perfect conditions for the development of fungal problems, blackspot, rust and mildew in particular, and good pruning is one of the most effective cultural tools we have against it.

Cutting out old, congested, and crossing stems improves airflow through the plant, which helps to prevent these fungal issues.

Cut to an outward-facing bud, so that the new stem grows outwards instead if inwards, remove anything dead, damaged or spindly, and clear all the old leaves from around the base rather than leaving them if they contain fungal spores. 

Get it done now, and your roses will barely notice the delay.

• Got a gardening question for Peter Dowdall? Email [e-mail]

• Got a question for Peter Dowdall? Email [e-mail]