pruning

Good Morning,
My first post[so please be gentle with me!!¬]
I have just moved and there are a lot of ancient roses in the garden some with only one stem. What is my best way to tackle them? Prune them hard? And then give them a good feed{toprose for instance?} When shall I prune them? I live in the garden of England [Kent].
Wise Owl I live near Cobham ,where you used to work. Always go to daffodil day.
I hav'nt seen many roses there now!
stopper

 

I shall prune my Roses in the middle to the end of March,or when I am sure the frosts have finished so that the pruned cane ends are not damaged in any way

As all the heads from mine had been eaten by deer, I pruned mine back in Oct/Nov!! Oh I hope I haven't killed them or stopped their growth for this year

 

Don't panic @Apple Blossom! gardening sometimes can be a bit of a compromise with the weather and our "furry friends" having a say in matters. I am NOT a Rose expert like wiseowl but grow quite a few roses which are "pruned" annually at all times between November and April by our local bambies. It might not be ideal but my Roses still put on a good show despite being scoffed by deer. What is actually much more damaging is when lambs get out of their fields and decide to visit my garden. The little b...ers are very fond of Rose buds, consequently I'm afraid I like my lambs with mint sauce!

 

So funny

I couldn't believe it I did a new rose area and spent a lot of time at a private rosarian selecting what roses I liked for colour and aroma (with @wiseowl help) After a lot of work I sat back and admired on how lovely it will be when it starts to flourish.

One week..... that's the only display I had... and the whole blinking lot was scoffed... I couldn't believe it... they are not getting them this year... I have a plan in hand as I know how they are getting into the garden!!

 

Good luck with your "cunning plan" @Apple Blossom, just to add, don't bother to drape human hair over your Roses as a deterrent to Deer. I got loads of hair from the local hairdressers and hung it over the branches of my Camellias, which obviously are the Deer equivalent to us and chocolate Did it deter our antlered visitors? did it ....!

 

Thank you Woo.....I shall keep the deer well away this year..... and plan to prune in Feb/March