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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Alice Vincent

I used to be intimidated by roses. But they are not as high-maintenance as you think

a gardener pruning pink-and-white roses with pruning shears
The key with pruning is to prioritise sturdy growth for the future. Photograph: Mariya Surmacheva/Getty Images

Does your Instagram shout at you? Mine does. Every time I open it up – albeit with increasing reluctance – someone I didn’t previously know existed is sharing a “hack”. It could be for stopping my toddler from throwing a fit in the supermarket or how to button a shirt so I look less old. It’s interesting when gardening suggestions are thrown into the mix. Sometimes they’re nonsense (see growing new spring onions from the bottoms of old ones in saucers of water), sometimes they’re so helpful I stash them away with the unfulfilled intention to watch back in the future.

Lately, I’m being shown a lot of stuff about roses. Specifically, deadheading them. Roses are one of those plants that seem more high-maintenance than they are; before I grew them I was convinced they were the preserve of those people who are so serious about gardening that they have a foam kneeler (I still don’t own one of these).

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