I am new to growing old garden roses. My R. Charles de Mills is still fully clothed in leaves at the end of Winter. With my reblooming roses I will prune them in a few weeks time and any remaining leaves get removed, just wondering if stripping off the leaves of CdM and other once flowerers that have retained leaves is a good idea too?
I can't say I've ever given any thought to this. However, the once-flowerers are about to launch into their once-a-year event, and might want a maximum source of energy production. I'd be inclined to leave them to drop leaves that aren't necessary.
Thanks so much for your replies. I had anticipated that you would all say the opposite! But very glad to have one less chore to do. The once flowering roses I have are all quite young and I haven't pruned them yet, but might very lightly this year after flowering. Hopefully they will just shed their old leaves naturally.
Rats -- they JUST changed it! (And I was hoping to buy this and several other now-discontinued roses from them, too...) In any case; yes, I'll email them and suggest they register on HMF.
