Features

Warton's Bill Blackledge is one of the county's most popular and sought after gardeners. If it's green and needs watering, Bill can tell you about it. He has been answering BBC Radio Lancashire listeners' queries for over thirty years, which means he's been there nearly as long as the transmitter!

His knowledge is encyclopedic. After training at the under the then Ministry of Agriculture, Bill spent over twenty years at the Department of Biological and Environmental Services at Lancaster University. Now, he's a regular course tutor at Alston Hall, Longridge and Lancaster Adult College.

For three decades, Bill has travelled the county with fellow judges as a regional judge for North West in Bloom.

So, whatever the problem, we like to think Bill can sort it out... at least that's the theory!

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Janice asks...

I look after the garden of a elderly lady neighbour, she would dearly like to plant three roses in a small bed against a north facing wall. They need to grow no taller than three or four feet so no climbers please.

Bill replies...

Quite a range of roses will grow against a north facing wall and there are numerous Hybrid Teas which you can choose from. Listed below are fragrant roses which will be ideal for your neighbour.

Warm Wishes - an award winning perfumed rose with a soft peachy colour
Bride - soft delicate pink blooms and highly scented
Lions International - a beautiful golden yellow rose
Cheshire Regiment - very vigorous with beautiful apricot blooms

More information on Hybrid Teas varieties can be found on Fryer's website www.fryers.co.uk

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Jacqueline McGarry asks...

For years I had a climbing yellow rose which said on it not to prune which I didn't. I had it for years then it died. I blame the oil from the oil heating barrel which was leaking. It was moved up the garden but it didn't help. I am now on gas heating and I would love another yellow rose which I will plant in the area where the last one was. It had a gorgeous smell and I would like one the same. There is now a wooden trellis which it can reach though the old one just grew up against the wall. Can you tell me if I can get one like that today?

Bill replies...

A very fragrant yellow rose which is still possibly the most popular is the variety Golden Showers. I have been in contact with Fryer's Roses Knutsford (www.fryers.co.uk) and, as well as recommending Golden Showers they also mentioned a new variety - Gardener's Glory - which will be available to the public autumn time. With regard to the planting of your rose you will need to plant in fresh soil, if you do plant roses where existing roses have been planted there is the old disease Rose Sickness which can quite easily restrict the vigour of the new rose and, there is also the chance that your old soil is still being infected from the residue of your leaking oil barrel. You will also need to work into your fresh soil some well rotted manure and if you intend planting this time of year (May) you will need to purchase container grown roses.

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Penny asks...

I am looking for a white climbing rose for the front of my house which is south facing and the tiny front area therefore gets pretty hot and dry. I am impatient to have a beautiful rose clad house so a fast growing variety would be good too!

Bill replies...

Two white climbing roses which are very popular Penny are Swan Lake which has beautiful formed silvery white hybrid tea blooms, highly scented and will grow to a height of 2 to 2.5 metres. The other variety is White Cloud which will produce am abundance of creamy white flowers and again will grow to a height of 2 to 2.5 metres. Before planting with your house being south facing I would work in plenty of organic material into your soil which will assist in retaining moisture and I would also give your rose a good mulching of well rotted manure during the summer months. You will also need to keep an eye on watering during the summer period.

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Gary asks...

I have just bought a house, the brickwork is very bad and ugly. Could you suggest a fast growing climbing rose that will grow to approx 4m, the wall is south facing.

Bill replies...

If you intend to cover a four metre wall Gary you would be far better planting a rambling rose rather than a climber as they are far more vigorous and will produce clusters of small flowers. The varieties I would recommend are Albertine which produces sweetly scented salmon coloured roses and will grow to a height of five to six metres, the variety Super Fairy is repeat flowering rambler producing soft pink blooms and will grow to a height of four metres. If you would prefer to grow a climbing roses rather than a rambler I would recommend the vigorous climbing rose High Flyer which has beautiful red roses and will grow to a height of three metres. There is also the popular flowering rose Royal Gold which again will grow to a height of three metres.

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Susan Cameron asks...

I have an iron arch and I have red roses growing up on either side. I am looking for and evergreen summer flowering climber can you please recommend something that will survive the Highland winter and grow quite quickly?

Bill replies...

I am assuming from your question Susan that you would like an evergreen summer climber to intermingle with your red roses but, I am afraid that the choice is very limited. There are however two semi-evergreen climbers which I would recommend and the first is the flowering Honeysuckle (Lonicera Japonica Hallina) which is semi evergreen, but should withstand your climate. The other climber is Solinum Crispum which produces purple/blue flowers during the summer months and again is semi evergreen but it is debatable whether this plant would survive your highland winters.

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Nancy asks...

My best friend got me a yellow rose tree when my dad passed 3 years ago. We have moved, and the bush's leaves are turning yellow and brown. It had one bud that never opened, just turned brown and wilted. I cant loose this rose tree, very special to me HELP!!

Bill replies...

You say Nancy that you have moved and if you have just recently lifted your Rose Tree and transplanted the tree into your new garden, and if for some reason some of the roots have been damaged this could be the reason why the leaves are turning yellow and beginning to wilt. I am afraid that there is not much that you can do with regard to yellowing and wilting of the leaves and I personally would cut the shoots back to a leaf scar and hopefully the new shoots that will appear will fully recover. You will need to keep an eye on the watering during the summer months and I would also be inclined to mulch around the base of your Rose Tree with some well rotted manure. I do hope that your tree will recover but a lot will depend on the state of the roots when you transplanted.

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Alfred Roberts asks...

I have recently hard pruned my rose bushes to about two foot and fear that I have done so too early as I do so in February and since there have been a nights of heavy frost and I am worried I might lose my roses by my actions

Bill replies...

Once you have pruned your Rose Trees Alfred you do encourage new shoots and as you say the heavy frosts that we have encountered can quite easily damage these tender shoots. If we do have another spell of really cold weather you could cover your rose trees with a horticultural white fleece which will give the shoots some protection.

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Norma asks...

Is it too early to cut back Rosa Ragusa - behind south facing wall and not pruned in Autumn?

Bill replies...

Rosa Ragusa is a tough hedging rose Norma and is ideal for keeping burglars at bay! and for anyone who has a Ragusa edge they can be cut back with hedging shears. Even though your Ragusa is situated behind a south facing wall, living at Redcar, which can be quite exposed to the elements, I would be inclined to wait until March before pruning.

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Denyse Gregson asks...

I want to plant a new climbing rose. Can you recommend a deep red one and when can I plant it?

Bill replies...

One of my favourite red roses Denyse is the variety Dublin Bay which grows extremely well in the North West of England. Another vigorous climbing rose and - a relatively new variety - is High Flyer which produces a mass of well formed rich red roses and will grow to a height of two to three metres.

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Peter Clark asks...

Hello Bill, I found your comments on training roses helpful and interesting. I bought a Maigold this year and tied it to a trellis. As this year was a rose disaster year I can't really say if it performed well. I don't think I can train the main stems horizontally as they are thick and inflexible and very thorny. If I hard prune in spring will the new shoots be more pliable and will it flower on new growth?

Bill replies...

Maigold is one of the most popular climbing roses Peter, it has a strong fragrant smell but, as you have mentioned the drawback is that it is very thorny and difficult to tie back to trellis work. You can cut back one or two of the older stems to approximately twelve inches from the soil surface and the new shoots can then be tied in as vertical as possible. Maigold does flower quite early in the life of the plant and it will produce some flowers on the side shoots.

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Angela Darling asks...

I have what looks like a white mould small scruffy scales on branches of my rose bushes two bushes are badly affected. Please can you tell me how to treat and when?

Bill replies...

Your rose trees are probably suffering from powedry mildew Angela which is a common problem that affects the leaves and also the stems and branches and, it would be worthwhile, even at this time of year (January), to spray your badly infected Rose Bushes with a fungicide such as Dithane. It would also be worthwhile spraying around the soil to kill any active spores. During the spring/summer months to keep the mildew under control you will need to spray regularly with a Rose Fungicide.

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Carl Alec Youngs asks...

Two of the climbing roses I bought 18 months ago for my trellis work have become too tall. I fear cutting them down as I have heard they may revert to the wild rose. Please could you tell me what to do? Thank you.

Bill replies...

Unlike the Rambling Rose where the flowering shoots can be cut back to ground level your Climbing Rose Carl requires very little pruning and during the Springtime what you will need to do is remove any dead, diseased and weak shoots. The side shoots which have flowered can be cut back to approximately 3 to 4 inches and any new vigorous shoots can be tied into the main framework. With the two Roses which have grown too tall for the trellis work you will have to cut these back part way down the trellis work (just above a leaf scar).

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Pru Theaker asks...

I have a climbing rose ('high hopes', growing height 10-15 feet) growing inside a metal frame obelisk (14 inches diameter, 7 feet high). I know to wind the main stems horizontally but am not sure how much space/vertical distance to leave between them. The plant is in its first year with very pliant main stems which could be wound horizontally within 3-4 inches of each other, although I feel this might be too close to allow the side branches enough space to grow properly. Please could you give me an idea of how much distance to leave between the horizontal main stems? Also, will the main stems stop growing lengthwise once they are wound horizontally? I don't want to end up with a mass of stems and roses halfway up the obelisk and nothing at the top. Thank you, and for your patience with a complete novice rose grower.

Bill replies...

With your Climbing Rose you will need a permanent framework of main stems and the distance between the stems should be approximately 1ft. Three to four inches is too close. To ensure that some of the main stems reach the top of your obelisk you will need to train the stems up part of the way vertically before training horizontally around the obelisk. It is also important that during the spring and summer time to ensure your rose is well watered and is also fed regularly with a proprietary rose fertiliser and I feel it is also beneficial - if at all possible - to mulch with well rotted manure.

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June asks...

I should be moving in a few weeks I want to take some of my roses with me (didn't have much luck with cuttings in summer) is this possible at this time of year (November) we have had frost for a few nights already.

Bill replies...

The next fine day we have June I would dig up the roses which you wish to take with you with as much root ball as possible. I would then dig a trench in the garden and transfer/heal the roses into the trench. The roses will then be easily accessible for when you move. When transferring your roses, they can be placed in hessian sacking or large poly bags. In your new garden dig a trench and again heal in your roses which will then give you time to plan where you are going to replant.

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Barbara Keith asks...

When do I prune my roses? I've read that it should be done in the Spring but I thought it should be done about now. How far from the ground do I go? They have produced a poor show this year so do I need to spray them or feed them before winter?

Bill replies...

If I could start with the last part of your question first Barbara - your rose trees are now entering their dormant period (November) and will not require feeding until early Spring. If your trees have been infected by black spot or rust diseases you will need to remove all the infected fallen leaves and burn them. On the question of pruning your rose trees this should be carried out early Spring and the type of pruning will depend on what species you have in your garden ie Hybrid Tea Roses, Floribunda Roses or Shrub Roses, and if you could email BBC Radio Lancashire with your types of roses I will then be able to answer your question on pruning.

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Stephen Pate asks...

Hi Bill, I planted a climbing rose (iceberg) and have it growing up inside an 8 foot obelisk. The effect I wanted was to have flowers from top to bottom within a few inches of the obelisk. What I got (last summer) was a few white flowers at the end of horizontal side shoots about 2 1/2 feet from the main horizontal stems growing inside the obelisk. It was planted a couple of years ago and has a basic structure. What can I do to increase the number of flowers this summer, and have them nearer the obelisk?

Bill replies...

It is important Stephen to fan out the main stems as horizontal as possible - tying them loosely to wires inside the obelisk. When the canes are bent over horizontally sap flow to the ends is restricted - encouraging the side buds to break into growth. If these in turn are trained to the horizontal position the rose will gradually spread upwards with branches and, hopefully, flowers all the way. I feel it is also important to encourage new growth to keep your climber well watered and add plenty of rose fertilizer plus, a mulch with well rotted manure is also very beneficial.

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Edith asks...

Where can I buy a Kifsgate Rose? Also when do I plant it? Thank you for your help.

Bill replies...

The nearest nursery where you will be able to purchase a Kifsgate Rose is at CK Jones - Golden Fields Nursery - Barrow Lane - Tarvin - Chester CH3 8JS. I have been in contact with the Nursery and they do mail order or, if you can visit the Nursery they also have container grown plants.

The correct name for Kifsgate Rose is Rosa Filipes Kifsgate. It is a very fragrant rose but it is also very vigorous and you will need a large garden to grow the rose. Regarding planting time for your rose if you can purchase a container grown plant and keep it will watered during the summer months you can plant it now, but otherwise you will have to wait until the autumn/early spring.

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Jane Hook asks...

What can I do about rose chafer beetles? My white iceberg roses are infested although the red flowered climber next to it hasn't any sign of infestation.

Bill replies...

The two types of Chafer Beetle which could be infecting your Iceberg Jane - one is the Cock Chafer which is a large reddish beetle and this beetle will eat the leaves of your rose and the other is the smaller Rose Chafer Beetle which tends to eat the petals of the rose. The most affective control method is to go out once or twice a day and pick off the beetles and destroy them. You could spray with a general contacting insecticide but there is always a chance that spraying will damage the flowers. If you do spray - spray early morning or in the evening and not in direct sunlight.

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Mary Howarth asks...

Why cant you grow a Rose where another one has been?

Bill replies...

If you have been growing roses on a piece of land for approximately eight years or over Mary it is inadvisable to plant new roses. The soil could be suffering from the common term 'rose soil sickness'. Basically it is tired of roses! Some people say the reason for this is due to eel worm others say it is a soil deficiency and even if you apply a liberal dressing of fertiliser and manure on many occasions new roses are never as vigorous as they should be. It is always advisable to plant in new soil.

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Glen Angrave asks...

I have a climbing rose, New Dawn, it had lots of buds but they didn't open they died and fell off, please can you tell me what has caused this?

Bill replies...

One of the problems with climbing roses - especially if they are climbing up the side of a wall - is the roots can quite easily dry out and obviously this is more likely to happen Glen during the summer months when the flowers are just opening and when the tree needs maximum nutrients and water and I feel this is probably the main cause why your flower buds have dropped off. To offset this problem - if you are not in a drought restricted area - giving your Climbing Rose a good watering will help to alleviate the problem. It would also be beneficial mulching around the roots with well rotted farmyard manure as this will cut down transpiration loss and supply nutrients to the plant.

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Lorraine McLeod asks...

Please can you tell me how to go about moving a rose bush. We have a beautiful yellow rose but it now fights for sunlight due to an apple tree nearby. When would be the best time to move it and what is the best method to transfer it to its new location? It's such a lovely rose and we don't want to lose it. Thank you for your time.

Bill replies...

You will need to wait until the Autumn time before moving your rose bush Lorraine. Try and lift you rose with as much root as possible and when transplanting it is important that the hole is large enough to allow the roots to sit comfortably and where the rose has been grafted needs to be just above soil level. You must ensure the soil is well firmed around your rose bush and any large rose shoots can be trimmed back lightly to avoid them blowing in the wind.

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Margaret Whalley asks...

I plan to replace a border of old rose trees. When is the best time of year to do this, please?

Bill replies...

Assuming that you are going to replace your border with new roses Margaret - planting in the Autumn time is ideal while the soil is still warm. But I personally would be reluctant to plant new roses in the same soil due to the problems which can occur through Rose Soil Sickness. Basically the soil is 'fed-up' of growing roses. You may get away with planting in the same soil Margaret or alternatively planting new roses in another part of your garden.

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Maire Campbell asks...

I have a north facing front garden. I love roses, are there any species that would thrive there? Thanks

Bill replies...

Quite a range of roses will perform in a North facing garden providing that it is not too shady and the roses can receive some protection from the North facing winds. Roses such as the Hybrid Teas, Shrub Roses and Floribundas should be fine and for a North facing wall and trellis fencing there are quite a number of rambling and climbing roses to choose from and listed below are a selection of varieties:

Ramblers: Albertine - Open Arms - Super Fairy and LIttle Rambler

Climbing Roses: Dublin Bay - Compassion - Golden Showers and High Flyer.

There is such a wide range of Hybrid Teas and Floribundas to choose from that it would be well worth your while to visit a Rose Nursery within your area.

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Steven asks...

Is February a good time to move a rose bush?

Bill replies...

If your Rose Tree is a very large bush Steven I would be inclined to wait until the Autumn time - rose trees are now coming into leaf and a large bush would certainly receive a check in growth. If however your Rose tree is quite small and you dig out a large root ball you will be able to transfer your tree successfully

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Jean asks...

My roses have died and I noticed when removing the petals that there appears to be seeds in the middle, are they or is it just part of the structure of the pod. Many thanks

Bill replies...

Quite a wide range of roses do produce seed pods/rose hips Jean and they do look very attractive during the winter months and, very often you will find tiny hard seeds when you open up the seed pods. You may wish to try and germinate the seeds but these seeds will need to have been stratified/given a cold treatment before germination can take place. For this cold treatment all you need to do is keep the seeds in a plastic container in a domestic fridge for approximately one month and during March/April time you can sow the seeds in a general seed and potting compost.

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Nicola Herbert asks...

I am wanting to cover a large expanse of North facing fence but hate ivy and conifers what roses or Clematis would be best? The soil stays quite wet all year. Also the same again but suitable for pots.

Bill replies...

Quite a number of climbing and rambling roses Nicola will tolerate a north facing fence providing that there is some shelter from the cold northerly winds. I list below some climbers and rambling roses.

Climbing Roses: Dublin Bay, Compassion, High Flyer and Dancing Queen.

Rambling Roses: The New Dawn, Super Elfin, Super Fairy and Open Arms

Regarding Clematis for a north facing aspect I would choose Clematis Alpina or Clematis Niobi.

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Andy Cochrane asks...

I've just planted the English rose 'Falstaff' as a short climber inside a 7' obelisk. Do I need to train the stems horizontally or simply tie them in vertically rather like what I'm doing with two other short climbers over an arch elsewhere in the garden?

Bill replies...

What happens when you train the main shoots of climbing roses vertically Andy you will usually find that the majority of the flowers will appear at the top of your Obelisk. Training the main shoots as horizontal as possible interrupts the flow of sap upwards - which caused lateral shoots to appear - which in turn will bear flowers and these lateral shoots will assist in covering your Obelisk and producing a mass of flowers.

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Philip Hebdige asks...

I would like to move some established miniture roses that are in my garden. I would like to plant them into patio pots, could you tell me the best way to go about this and when?

Bill replies...

I would be inclined to wait until the autumn when your roses are dormant Philip before lifting and transferring into pots. It would be a shame to move them this time of year (May) when they will be shortly flowering. Your miniture Roses will not have a vigorous roots system and you will need to repot in a well drained compost and I would use John Innes No 2 with approximately ten per cent grit sand to improve the drainage.

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Jackie McGarry asks...

I used to have a yellow rose that climbed up a wall in my back garden. It was about 20 years old and suddenly died. I blamed oil that came out of the tank which probably ruined the soil. When I got it, it said it didn't need pruning which I didn't do and for most of the year it flowered. The smell was lovely. I miss it a lot and would like another. Could you suggest one please?

Bill replies...

One of the finest climbing yellow roses is Golden Showers Jackie. It is a tried and trusted variety, flowers freely and will grow anywhere even on a north facing wall. It is important to plant your rose in fresh soil and avoid at all costs planting in soil where roses have been growing previously. A good time of year to plant roses is in the autumn time when the soil is still warm. Other varieties you could try are Royal Gold and Casino but my preference would be for Golden Showers.

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Brian asks...

3 weeks ago I purchased 3 new rose plants. The ground had already been prepared with addional multigrow compost and well rotted manure. 2 of the rose trees are doing very well but the third has hardly started to grow and the leaves are now a light green and wilting. I have checked for bugs and insects but haven't found any. As yet I haven't given the rose tree any other food than stated. I would be obliged for any help

Bill replies...

You will usually find Brian that reputable Garden Centres/Nurseries will replace trees and shrubs which like your Rose Tree has suddenly died and, it could quite easily be where the Rose Tree has been budded the graft has worked loose and this is what is causing the leaves of your tree to wilt. As you mentioned all your three new Rose Trees have received the same treatment regarding soil conditions and feeding and as I said above if your state these points to the place of purchase I am sure they will replace your tree.

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Pat Berliner-Schlueter asks...

I have a 2 year old Compassion rose. It is glossy and healthy but after flowering in early spring it has produced no more buds. Shoots are growing and they are beautifully healthy. I have fed the rose monthly since April, and with the rain this year it is not lacking water. It is on the east side and does not get as much sun there as the roses on the other side which are blooming very nicely. Is there anything I should do to encourage new buds?

Bill replies...

I am sure Pat that once your Compassion Rose has settled down and the young shoots are beginning to harden off new flower buds will be produced and with regard to feeding I would use a high potash fertiliser which again, will encourage flower buds to appear. Part of the problem has been the very recent wet weather which as you have stated produced stacks of young shoots but not many flower buds but I am sure that when your Compassion Rose settles down new buds will appear.