16 Nov 2009

Kew today - Pruning the Rose Pergola at Kew Gardens

The colossal task of pruning the Rose Pergola at Kew Gardens is underway, lead by Andy Darragh.

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Rose pergola

Rose pergola in full bloom at Kew Gardens (Image: Richard Wilford, RBG Kew)

Kew's Andy Darragh
Andy Darragh, Horticulturist at RBG Kew

Andy Darragh and his team are in the middle of the Herculean task of pruning the Rose Pergola, which runs down the centre of the Order Beds at Kew Gardens. This labour of love ensures a host of vibrant flowers appear at Kew Gardens in the summer.

Pruning starts in late September, and takes an astonishing four months to complete  – if Andy and his team started any later, the roses would come into flower before they finished!

During this annual maintenance, access along the path through the Order Beds is limited, but, as elsewhere at Kew, you are welcome to walk on the grass.

Andy is team leader for the Order Beds and the Grass, Secluded, Aquatic and Peony Gardens. He has been at Kew for nearly ten years, and his latest project has been the re-classification of the systematic Order Beds, creating a beautiful living encyclopaedia as a reference source for botanists, students and gardeners.

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2 comments on 'Kew today - Pruning the Rose Pergola at Kew Gardens'

Digital Media Team says

19/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Report abuse

Thanks for your comment about the order beds. Here's a little more information about the work we're doing in this area of the Gardens. Kew's Order Beds are halfway through a 4-year reorganisation programme reflecting a change to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group's latest arrangement of flowering plants (APG3). Over the past two years existing plantings in the beds have moved to their new positions to reflect this new system. The next phase is to introduce relevant plants from other parts of the Gardens and wider botanical partners. This is expected to take around a further two years. The Order Beds are largely herbaceous in character, so there is usually little to see above ground during the colder months of the year. As the project gets closer to completion we will develop interpretation explaining the new arrangement and why it is important for plant science.

Martin lugger says

16/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Report abuse

But there is nothing in the order beds, and looks like a grave yard. The grass is cut, but ever time I visit, there is even less planted. Not good for my students! When will this be resolved?

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