Soil conditions in this month will almost certainly be wet. In light soil areas you will still be able to plant but only if the temperature is above freezing.
In mild districts and sheltered areas you can start to prune floribundas that are vigorous.
Stocks budded last season can be cut back.
Pot roses will be starting to grow so a temperature of 10 to 15 degrees celsius should be maintained. Spray the roots with water to create moist conditions. Greenfly and caterpillars can cause serious damage to your plants so you should keep a close eye out for these pests.
Suckers are shoots which grow from your rootstock rather than from the variety that you bought. These stems are easy to trace back to the root and will look quite different to the main variety. Suckers can be caused by damaging the root – such as hoeing too close, frost damage or loose planting. If this is not checked it can lead to your plant reverting back to the rootstock variety.
Tackle each sucker as you find it and this will make removal very easy. If you trace the sucker back to the root, you can then simply pull it off.
With newly planted roses you will have to put your foot on the base of the plant and then pull the sucker off. It is better to pull the offending stem off rather than cutting because it will not grow back. If you cut it, it will most likely come back. Once the sucker is removed you can then put the soil back and heel in.
With standards it is best to rub off suckers growing on the stem as soon as they are seen.
