As we suspected the fourth and final arch was a really difficult one to do. There is so much weight in the rose and it is so thorny. It took us until nearly dinner time, yesterday evening, to finish it so we we left further pruning for the next day.
I had made a start but it was daunting as it’s very prickly and very difficult to reach. We were satisfied that all the structures were in place and we could continue cutting back the rose the next day.
The final arch before we began
Work begins on the final arch
The final arch is finished
Final arch
Side view of the final arch
All four arches
From further back
All four going up the path
We were really pleased with the end result and it’s only this last arch that needed more pruning to be done. We should then be able to keep them under control. It looks so much better than it did before.
Today we got a second wind and had another go at pruning the rose. I had taken a photo before we did the final arch.
Before the final arch
After the fourth arch has had it’s final prune
This is the final arch after some more pruning. I was trying to get rid of the tunnel effect and keep the planting contained to each arch and along the fence.
There is now a lot more light up the path and my husband can walk up the path without stooping or getting his head scratched. Even the tallest of people could now walk easily up the path. We are so glad it is finished and we are really pleased with the end result.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Very very nice, I bet you both feel so proud, now it is done.
We are so pleased with it. Every time we walk up and down the path it looks so different. It is so much more open and light and will be easier to manage. We are so glad that we don’t need to any more arches though. Four of them was more than enough. It really should be the last big thing that needs doing.