Garden Work

Roses, they say, have both good and bad Feng Shui

Roses, they say, have both good and bad Feng Shui. Their bright colours and fat red hips are excellent Yang, but their sharp thorns emit hostile energy. Feng Shui followers plant them near the gate where they will protect the house.

But wherever they are, some of them could do with a bit of tidying up. Remove any suspect or dead bits, and clean up fallen leaves from around the base. Don't put this material on the compost heap as it may contain diseases. Ramblers (climbers with fast growing, bendy stems) may flower better next year if you prune out some old wood. Fix any errant stems to their framework with a loose tie (to avoid strangulation when the plant grows).

Some gardeners like to mulch roses in autumn with a good layer of well-rotted manure, garden compost or leaf mould.