Help with elderly rose bush

Hi Guys

Having got on top of the back garden after a number of years of neglect, not deliberate just elderly relatives at long distance needing help, we have had to do a bit of surgery on the front hedge to open it up to make a few repairs on a leaning wall.

inside the hedge is a very old rose. its been there for years before we moved in 20 odd years ago. anyway it has been growing through the hedge.

I'm after some advice on what to do with it and when. do we prune it right back finished flowering? Its also a bit confused this year as it has been known to still be in flower in October. it does look very strange without the hedge round it. Pictures below.

 

Thanks Wiseowl

That is just what we were thinking leave it till later in the year and decide what shape we would like it to be.

with the other roses in the garden we normally cut them back quite short as there is a lot room around them. with this rose the bottom cane is about 3 inches across. Is it ok to leave a bit of height on the bottom canes or would it be better to cut back quite a lot. we are planning on leaving the border without hedge and only planting a few shrubs in it.

thanks again

Doug

 

As above also add some well rotted manure in the autumn/ spring. I put horse manure on mine simply because there was thinking years ago that this was the best stuff to use. Some of mine need a prune.