'They bloom more': Simple gardening trick 'forces more flower production' along rose stems
Roses should be deadheaded in Autumn
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As one of the nation’s favourite blooms, gardeners are always seeking new ways to multiply the number of roses in their garden.
Climbing roses are particularly popular because they add swathes of colour to bland walls and fences.
What's more, the flowers can be planted at any time of the year, provided that the ground is not frozen or wet.
In order to get the most from a climbing rose, experts recommend tying up the flower stems to a trellis and bending the stems slightly.
Roses produce more blooms when their stems are slightly bent
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Experts at Jackson Nurseries reiterate the importance of these structures, explaining that climbing blooms are not self-clinging and therefore need support.
The rose enthusiast behind the TikTok account The Cornish Home recommends tightening the stems tightly to the structure for better flowering.
In a clip, she explained: “Did you know, with climbing roses, they actually benefit from being strapped down quite tight. It helps them to bloom more.
“Don’t do it so tight that they can get a wound, even bending them can make a difference.”
“Your roses will also flower better if trained as bending and twisting the stems slows down the flow of sap and promotes more flowering shoots.”
There are several reasons why bending a rose stem promotes more vigorous growth.
Firstly, the technique uses gravity to trap flower-inhibiting hormones at the tips and forces more flower production along the canes.
The trick also enables every bud eye at every leaf node along the arched cane to produce a new stem and flower cluster.
Additional hacks to encourage more blooming include pruning any excessive foliage that may be restricting air movement and sunlight penetration.
Regularly removing fallen leaves and debris from the base of the plant will also prevent the spread of diseases.
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Roses can produce more blooms with a little help
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Enhancing ventilation around the plant is one of the best ways to ensure the well-being of roses and increase their blooms.
Gardening expert Andrea Philips, from Airtasker, explained: “Nothing adds beauty to a garden like a healthy rose bush, and if you learn how to prune roses the right way, your flowers will see a long lifespan.
“The best time to prune roses is when things are a little colder with a touch of frost. If possible, delay your pruning until the end of winter or early spring.
“We do this because we do not want tender new rose shoots being burnt by the frost.”
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