17 December 2023 , 15:30
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Roses are perhaps one of the most iconic flowers adored by Brits.
In the summer and early autumn months, their impressive bloom and distinct scent can transform the dullest of gardens into a tranquil oasis. They're also relatively low maintenance and can survive the gruelling British weather.
But, as the cold winter months creep in, it's important the flowers are cared for properly. In fact, gardening experts have warned that roses will be 'significantly' damaged if owners fail to forget a simple, quick task.
It's important to get the job done during the flowers' dormant season, which is quickly approaching, if you want those gorgeous summer blooms.
Experts at gardening retailer Hayloft say it is important to 'deadhead' your roses correctly to help them maintain next year's blooms for 'as long as possible'. To do this, gardeners need to cut the spent flower stem back down to a leaf with five leaflets using a pair of clean secateurs, the Express reports.
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"This encourages the rose to strengthen the stem and gives more energy to the other flowers," the pros said. Pruning the roses and reducing its height will help the flower when exposed to windy conditions.
Known as 'wind rock' - heavy gusts can rock the plant and loosen the roots in the ground - causing significant damage. Therefore, pruning of roses should be carried out in January and February time, as this will 'stimulate growth' for the upcoming warmer months.
If your garden is being invaded by squirrels destroying your beloved plants, don't worry. Fans of cleaning guru Mrs Hinch are raving about a simple yet humane tip to deter the pests for good.
The nifty hack, which only costs £1, comes from the cleaning expert's Facebook page Mrs Hinch Gardening Tips - which has more than 100,000 members. One user user asked other cleaning fans their advice for keeping the squirrels away and took to the page and wrote: "How can I get rid of squirrels from my garden? My neighbour is feeding them."
The post was met with hundreds of comments with many turning to their spice draws to deter squirrels. One person commented: "Cayenne pepper… hot chilli powder, that works for me… they are destructive! As much as I think they are cute, I don't like my plants getting destroyed."
Another added: "Not sure if this helps, but I read the other day to put some chilli flakes in your feeders, it deters the squirrels, but birds are okay." While some opted for cayenne pepper others had another spice up their sleeves, the recommendation of cinnamon emerged elsewhere in the thread.
What's your top gardening hack? Let us know in the comments section below