Thompson & Morgan Facebook Q&A Session 15th November 2013 - Your horticultural questions answered.

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Name: Julia Rhodes

Question: I've got some overgrown - I think - rose bushes in the garden and want them to be more under control and better producing / looking next season. Is it a good idea to prune them right back, and if yes how far back and where do I cut the branches? Many thanks in anticipation. JR

Answer: Hi Julia, bush roses fall under three main types – hybrid tea, floribunda and shrub roses. Hybrid tea roses produce large flowers, either singly or in threes at the tips of stems. Floribunda roses generally produce clusters of small flowers at the tips of stems - each flower within the cluster opens at different times. Shrub roses generally have large growing habits and very thorny stems. All can be cut back quite hard if required. Hybrid teas and floribundas flower on new wood so can be cut back hard each winter, to within 15cm (6”) of the base for hybrid teas and 30cm (12”) of the base for floribundas. Shrub roses flower on wood which is 2 or more years old so are only lightly pruned to maintain a good shape. You can cut them back hard but you may lose flowers for a few years. The best method of pruning these roses is to gradually prune out the oldest stems to ground level, removing up to a third each year. This will encourage vigorous new growth and rejuvenation without losing all the flowers. All roses are best pruned in February or March, provided we’re not experiencing severe weather. Pruning cuts should always be made just above a bud, at an angle away from the bud. I hope this helps Julia, best of luck with your roses!

Name: Lyndsey Gibson

Question: How do I store lily bulbs over the winter? Can I plant them into containers and store them in the shed? Your help would be much appreciated.

Answer: Hi Lyndsey, if your lilies are growing in well-drained borders there is no need to lift them as they are fully hardy. However, if you have heavy clay soil then it probably is a good idea to lift and store them over winter in case of rotting. Lilies grown in containers can also be left outside – I tend to group mine in a sheltered part of the garden, but you can also bubble-wrap the outside of the pots to offer some insulation. Lilies will grow new roots in the autumn and winter during mild weather so it is beneficial to leave them in place for the best growth and flowering next year. It’s certainly not too late to plant lily bulbs now – if planted in pots they can be left outside as mentioned above. However, if you do need to lift and store them, carefully clean the bulbs and trim the roots. Lay them out on a tray for a day or two to properly dry out – this helps prevent fungal infections taking hold in storage. Then place them in a paper bag and keep somewhere very cool and dry, such as a shed or garage, until spring. I hope this helps Lyndsey.