Rose Calendar

January

We start our Rose Calendar in January, which is generally a cold month, when very little can be done in the rose garden.  Some advise planting to be continued if the weather is mild, but this is rather risky as, though warm at the time, bitter frost is likely to come any day, when the trees would probably die.

February

In this month all those roses which for some reason or other were not put in, in the autumn can now be planted, according to the directions given in the Planting Roses Section.  They will start growing almost at once unless the weather is unusually cold.

It is not advisable to prune much yet, though if the pressure of work is likely to be great later on, some of the hardiest may have the knife applied.  Many people believe they will get roses earlier if they prune early, but unless the spring is free from frost and cold winds this is not the case.  The leaves which venture forth too soon are nipped, so that nothing is really gained.

Those rose trees which have been protected with bracken should be slightly uncovered.  This only applies to the heads and not to the roots, which still retain their mulching for another month.

March

This is an interesting month to the rosarian, though the joy is not unmixed with sadness.  The roll-call time has come, to look over your roses and see how they have fared.  Some are dead, others trampled over are pushing forth great shoots to welcome the sun, and though they must be cut back, still this is a pleasant sight.

If very inexperienced, in order to save disappointment, get a friend to come and point out those which are really alive, as I have known people carefully cherish the briar stock when all the time the variety which had been budded on to it was dead.

This is the great pruning month for Hybrid Perpetuals, and all roses equally hardy.  Do not forget the rule, “cut the strong ones back little, and the weakly ones hard,” and remember that with Evergreen Roses and Rambling Roses each shoot should have its brown tip cut off, any other cutting out should have been done in the previous autumn.

This is a windy month, and each rose standard should be looked at and securely fastened to its stake.  It does them much harm to be swaying about in a gale.   At the end of the month the manure which has been protecting their roots should be forked in, a spade breaks off the delicate fibrous roots which are so important to the well-being of the rose trees.

April

This is the month when Teas and Hybrid Teas and Noisettes should be pruned, and though they are always pruned later than Hybrid Perpetuals, they usually bloom quite as early, their growth being quicker.  Never be persuaded to prune your Teas before the first week of April, unless just one or two are done as an experiment.  Look out for suckers: if kept under now, they will be far less troublesome later on.

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