Ask the RHS EXPERTS
Coming up roses
Q My roses have been extra glorious this year. What can I do to keep them looking good?
A Deadhead faded blooms by snapping off the stalk just below the head to remove as little of the plant’s resources as possible – this encourages re-flowering. Unless the rose needs to be lightly pruned to keep its shape, try to remove as few leaves as possible. Don’t deadhead roses grown for bright autumn hips, of course. Some roses, especially older ones, flower only once a summer, no matter what you do.
Feed roses by adding a potassium-rich fertiliser and ideally hoeing afterwards. If the roses are under-planted or mulched, consider a foliar feed – seaweed fertiliser, for example – sprayed on the foliage. Pick off sawfly larvae if seen, and rather than use fungicides and insecticides to deal with any problems, try biostimulant products, such as rose tonics. These can often promote good rose health to avoid pesticide use.
CALL THE LADYBIRDS
Q Is it worth buying ladybirds to help
A with pest control in my garden?
Native two-spot ladybirds are sold for gardeners to release in their gardens to help control pests, especially aphids. These will do no harm and are not the invasive harlequin ladybird that may harm native insects. The only objection might be that the adult ladybirds may fly off, although if they are released on to a significant aphid infestation, they may well stay around and lay eggs – ladybird adults and larvae are excellent aphid predators. You could wait for native ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies to arrive,
