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Help! “The Fairy” rose

(8 Posts)
mostlyharmless Wed 11-Jul-18 11:54:18

Has anyone any ideas for dead-heading a prolific “The Fairy”? I’ve had it for ten years or more and it’s been very disappointing. This year it’s amazing. Literally thousands of white flowers instead of the usual brief flush quickly turning to brown mush after rain. It obviously likes the hot dry weather.
But how to dead head it? It’s two metres in height and spread. It’s a vicious beast as well.
Also can I chop off the new growth which is spreading everywhere?

LiltingLyrics Wed 11-Jul-18 12:45:32

White flowers? There's Super Fairy Rambler and the shrub rose Fairy but both are pink. Maybe the sun is bleaching the colour.

I have a couple of pink polyantha roses which have rambled enthusiastically through a Photina. I just chop my side with shears and long-handled pruner. Neighbour other side takes a hedgetrimmer to it. It doesn't seem to mind.

mostlyharmless Wed 11-Jul-18 13:28:03

I thought it was a “The Fairy” Liltinglyrics. I might be wrong.
Definitely white, although pink in bud.

LiltingLyrics Wed 11-Jul-18 13:38:22

Aha! There is also The Fairy White. Is it this maybe?

www.jparkers.co.uk/rose-the-fairy-white

mostlyharmless Wed 11-Jul-18 13:47:25

It could be liltinglyrics. Although it’s definitely grown taller than it should have.
I just thought as it was doing so well this year perhaps I should deadhead it to keep it flowering. But I think you’re right. It’s probably better to leave it till winter and cut it back like a hedge. It’s painful work trying to deadhead it!

LiltingLyrics Wed 11-Jul-18 15:00:30

I wouldn't mind betting that if you leave it you will get a lot of hips. Mine do which attract winter birds like Redwing and Fieldfare and my excuse for leaving the roses untended until the spring chop back.

mostlyharmless Wed 11-Jul-18 15:17:03

I might try letting it go to hips then liltinglyrics. Thanks.

J52 Wed 11-Jul-18 16:10:05

I give my ramblers a tidy up prune, leaving some hips and then a harder prune in the spring.