Madame Alfred Carriere

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Andrew L, Oct 24, 2006.

  1. Andrew L

    Andrew L Apprentice Gardener

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    I have a very vigorous Madame Alfred Carriere that I am about to prune back severly following wind damage. The rose is growing in well mulched heavy clay soil and is fed with Toprose twice yearly. I have a couple of questions, I get plenty of growth but few flowers and I would prefer it the other way round. First what can I do to increase the number of flowers? Second, I've been very reluctant to cut it back during the season but it really does get a bit too big, could I treat it like a hedge and keep it cut to size?
     
  2. Fran

    Fran Gardener

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    As its a climbing rose, that sounds about right. What are you training it up or against??? I always feel that climbing roses have a lot in common with their dog rose ancestors, long vigorous growth, flower the next season.
     
  3. Celia

    Celia Gardener

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    From what I have read it will flower best on the 2nd year's growth so only cut out any damaged or diseased wood unless your plant is older than 2 years. Then only cut out 1 or 2 of the oldest stems to about 1 foot, if you prune all of it you will forfeit the flowers next year
     
  4. jazid

    jazid Gardener

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    And maybe don't feed it next year, then (if at all) only once a year. A bit of a lean diet may well coax some blooms onto it. Mine is still flowering well, I never feed it and it is surrounded by grass (it grows up a dead Cherry).

    Can't help on the hedging idea though for no rational reason it makes me feel uncomfortable. I fear you might get a lot of whiffly long shoots poking about and a sad, scruffy looking plant.
     
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