Pruning Day a Great Way to Get Roses Back on Track

Anyone with rose bushes in their garden and no idea what to do with them, should head to the Botanic Garden on Sunday 22 June for some free advice.

It's Rose Pruning Day and Botanic Garden staff and enthusiasts from the Wellington Rose Society and the Wellington Heritage Rose Society will be out in force with their secateurs demonstrating the best way to prune roses for beautiful summer blooms.

Wellington City Council's Botanic Gardens Manager David Sole says pruning roses correctly isn't difficult once you know what you are doing and plays a major role in keeping roses healthy.

"It helps reduce the incidence of pests and disease and will ensure better blooms."

The Lady Norwood Rose Garden has some 3000 rose bushes, and more than 250 old-fashioned roses ramble among the historic grave stones in neighbouring Bolton Street Memorial Park.

Mr Sole says Botanic Garden gardeners do everything possible these days to keep roses healthy so they can minimise the need to spray and are only too happy to share what they have learnt while caring for the city's biggest and best rose garden.

"People will also be able to get some great advice from members of the rose and heritage rose societies, who are passionate about roses."

Anyone interested in learning how to prune modern bush and climbing roses can do so between 1.oopm and 2.00pm. Meet at the Lady Norwood Rose Garden fountain at 1.00pm.

From 2.00pm to 3.00pm, the heritage roses will be in for some attention. To learn how to prune those, meet at the Seddon Memorial at the entrance to Bolton Street Memorial Park at 2.00pm. No special gear is required.

The free pruning demonstrations will happen in the Begonia House foyer if the weather is wet.