Rose Pruning - Should I??

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Hi,
This is only my second year of gardening. I have 7 rose bushes (4 David Austin).
I pruned them quite hard last autumn and they arte growing really nicely now, but I keep reading in the gardening mags that I should now be pruning my roses.
Should I do this?
If so, how hard?
Is it necessary to cut back all that lovely new growth?
Cheers

Also, am looking at buying another couple of roses. How close can I get away with planting them together with already established bushes?

Thanks again.

 

I tend to prune around 1/3 the growth in autumn to reduce weight then a folowing 1/3 in the spring.

Pruning now is very late and if you do flowering will be delayed, imo leave it this spring. remember you can be quite brutal deadheading in order to retain shape of new season growth.

 

Thanks, what about the distance for planting?
Can I plant 5 rose bushes a foot apart?

 

Youll end up with a conglomeration and a lot of non visible blooms and a haven for blackspotat 1' spacing.

Id say 2'-2.5' beteween each

 

what do you spray them with WOO??

 

I'm actually down your way tomorrow WOO, down at the Layham garden centre.
I'm gonna buy another 5 roses.
I'm gonna go for Gertrude Jeykll and peace.
Can you recommend any?

 

I guese woo uses rose clear.

I use sulphur tank mixed with permethrin and every now and alternate to systhane (nimrod t (trade))

For sulphur (sulphur rose)

http://www.greenacres.eu.com/rose_product_details.php?prodID=38&name=Sulphur%20Rose