Cape Town residents are being invited to grab their gardening gloves and help prepare thousands of roses for the next flowering season.

The City of Cape Town is hosting a week-long volunteer pruning programme at the Durbanville Rose Garden from 13 to 17 July 2026.

Residents can join the City’s horticultural team and help prune approximately 4 500 rose bushes across the popular public garden.

Residents can Learn While Helping

The volunteer programme follows the City’s recent Winter Rose Pruning Workshop.

During the workshop, gardening enthusiasts learnt about choosing suitable rose varieties, improving soil, fertilising plants and managing pests responsibly.

Participants were also shown how pruning methods can differ depending on the type of rose bush.

Volunteers will now have an opportunity to use those skills alongside experienced horticultural staff while helping maintain one of Cape Town’s best-known gardens.

No advanced gardening experience is required. The programme is open to experienced gardeners and residents who simply want to learn a practical new skill.

Winter Pruning Prepares Roses for Spring

Winter is considered an ideal period for pruning because rose plants are dormant.

Removing unnecessary growth during this period helps prepare the plants for strong growth and flowering later in the year.

The Durbanville Rose Garden’s main flowering season usually runs from October until May.

The garden was established in 1979 and covers approximately 3.5 hectares. It is considered one of the largest public rose gardens in South Africa.

How Residents can Volunteer

Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Francine Higham said the programme gives residents a practical chance to learn from the City’s horticultural team while caring for a valued community space.

She said the initiative forms part of efforts to promote environmental awareness, share gardening knowledge and encourage communities to care for public green spaces.

Residents do not need to register online before participating.

Those interested can visit the Durbanville Rose Garden during the programme, register at the facility and join the pruning activities for the day.