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Monty Don names one daily job to make sure roses 'carry more flowers'

Monty Don names one daily job to make sure roses 'carry more flowers'

Daily Mirror18 hours ago

Gardening expert Monty Don has shared a top tip for gardeners who want to keep their roses flowering for longer, and it's a job that needs to be done daily
Roses are treasured by many green-fingered enthusiasts for the stunning spectacle they present when in full bloom. Gardening expert Monty Don has highlighted a key task that should be performed daily to help these cherished plants "carry more flowers". In his blog, where he offers monthly gardening tips, Monty declared that people simply cannot herald the month of June without mentioning roses.
He shared with his followers that he's increasingly opting for English roses that offer repeat flowering, therefore prolonging their beauty beyond the peak of June. Monty then divulged his "secret" to cultivating roses that boast a longer blooming period, reports the Express.

His advice was clear: "The secret of keeping any rose flowering as long as possible is to deadhead daily." Deadheading involves removing wilted blooms to promote further flowering and enhance both the look and structure of the rose.

For roses, arguably the most emblematic and enchanting of garden flora, consistent deadheading is crucial to maintain their opulent display throughout the season.
This practice not only keeps the roses looking pristine but also helps stave off diseases and pests that tend to target decaying petals and hips.
Monty stressed that gardeners should avoid merely plucking off dead petals; instead, they should use secateurs to cut the spent stem back to the next leaf or bud below, no matter how far down it might be.
Monty highlighted the benefit of deadheading, stating it would "provoke a side-shoot which in turn will carry more flowers". He advised gardeners to regularly deadhead repeat-flowering shrub roses and those once-flowerers that don't bear hips.
Furthermore, Monty emphasised the importance of continuing this practice well into July. He explained: "It is very important to keep deadheading roses in July as the petals fade to encourage repeat flowering, but some roses will have now finished all that they are going to do this year."

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Monty Don names one daily job to make sure roses 'carry more flowers'
Monty Don names one daily job to make sure roses 'carry more flowers'

Daily Mirror

time18 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Monty Don names one daily job to make sure roses 'carry more flowers'

Gardening expert Monty Don has shared a top tip for gardeners who want to keep their roses flowering for longer, and it's a job that needs to be done daily Roses are treasured by many green-fingered enthusiasts for the stunning spectacle they present when in full bloom. Gardening expert Monty Don has highlighted a key task that should be performed daily to help these cherished plants "carry more flowers". In his blog, where he offers monthly gardening tips, Monty declared that people simply cannot herald the month of June without mentioning roses. He shared with his followers that he's increasingly opting for English roses that offer repeat flowering, therefore prolonging their beauty beyond the peak of June. Monty then divulged his "secret" to cultivating roses that boast a longer blooming period, reports the Express. ‌ His advice was clear: "The secret of keeping any rose flowering as long as possible is to deadhead daily." Deadheading involves removing wilted blooms to promote further flowering and enhance both the look and structure of the rose. ‌ For roses, arguably the most emblematic and enchanting of garden flora, consistent deadheading is crucial to maintain their opulent display throughout the season. This practice not only keeps the roses looking pristine but also helps stave off diseases and pests that tend to target decaying petals and hips. Monty stressed that gardeners should avoid merely plucking off dead petals; instead, they should use secateurs to cut the spent stem back to the next leaf or bud below, no matter how far down it might be. Monty highlighted the benefit of deadheading, stating it would "provoke a side-shoot which in turn will carry more flowers". He advised gardeners to regularly deadhead repeat-flowering shrub roses and those once-flowerers that don't bear hips. Furthermore, Monty emphasised the importance of continuing this practice well into July. He explained: "It is very important to keep deadheading roses in July as the petals fade to encourage repeat flowering, but some roses will have now finished all that they are going to do this year."

Turn pink hydrangeas 'beautiful' blue with scrap kitchen item
Turn pink hydrangeas 'beautiful' blue with scrap kitchen item

Daily Mirror

time20 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Turn pink hydrangeas 'beautiful' blue with scrap kitchen item

Hydrangea flowers can range in colour from pink to blue, and one gardener has shared a simple trick to turn your pink hydrangeas blue - and it's all down to one kitchen scrap item Hydrangea varieties such as hydrangea macrophylla and hydrangea serrata offer a spectrum of colours, ranging from pink to blue, encompassing every shade of fuchsia, plum and periwinkle in between. Interestingly, the colour of these blooms can alter based on the quantity of aluminium absorbed by the plants from the soil, which is influenced by the soil's pH level. High concentrations of aluminium in acidic soil conditions result in the much sought-after bright blue to purple flowers. Conversely, lower levels of aluminium in the soil produce a variety of pink blooms. However, not all hydrangea species exhibit this colour-changing phenomenon. ‌ White hydrangeas remain unchanged, and some varieties are specifically bred for a particular colour scheme, reports the Express. The initial step involves testing your soil's pH level. Acidic soil (lower pH) will produce blue flowers, while alkaline soil (higher pH) will yield pink blooms. ‌ Soil test kits are readily available for purchase on Amazon for £12.99 or at B&Q for £6.99 to determine your soil's pH level. Once you've established your soil's general pH, you can adjust it accordingly to achieve either pink or blue hydrangea blooms. But what can be used to modify the colour of your hydrangeas? One gardener took to the Hydrangeas in the UK Facebook page to share her secret. She posted a photo of her "beautiful" hydrangeas adorned with vibrant blue blooms, attributing their colour to a common kitchen waste item. Shanta Patel posted: "This was a few years ago. Fed with coffee grounds." She revealed that the plant was initially pink when she purchased it from Ikea. When queried about the approach to utilising coffee grounds for plants, Shanta explained: "Add a layer [of used coffee grounds] on top every month and water it in." Shanta also disclosed the timeline for her pink hydrangeas' transformation into a blue hue, noting she observed changes "within the first year". Moreover, to sustain the soil's acidity, gardeners are advised to consider using orange peels, eggshells, or peat when viable. For those eager for swifter results, aluminium sulphate is a trusted aid in altering the colour of your pink hydrangeas to blue. The Trustleaf 1kg Tub Aluminium Sulphate, which is available on Amazon for £9.90, has been praised by customers who successfully turned their hydrangeas blue and maintained the shade. Another option for garden enthusiasts is acquiring the Hydrangea Colourant from Thompson & Morgan at the price of £5.99, which is equally effective in changing pink hydrangeas to blue.

Minding our language on the use of Americanisms
Minding our language on the use of Americanisms

The Guardian

timea day ago

  • The Guardian

Minding our language on the use of Americanisms

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