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How to Grow Roses |
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Pruning
Tips
Roses, like lilacs and other shrubs, increase their size by
sending up new stems from the roots. One- to three-year-old
stems (canes) make the best flower-producing branches; older
canes lose vigor and produce fewer flowers. Remove 1/3 of older
canes every few years to keep the shrub healthy. Pruning in
early spring (in my growing region, when the forsythias bloom)
and late fall is generally recommended. As a general rule, always
remember to remove damaged, diseased, dead, crossing or rubbing
branches and those that fill in the middle.
Plants with open centers (v shapes) let light and air in, which
helps to create more blooms and discourages fungal diseases.
To create an open center, try to prune the cane to an outward
facing bud if possible.
In spring, prune the roses back to live green wood keeping the
above point in mind. Prune repeat-blooming roses and early-summer-blooming
roses a second time after they bloom. Remove the dead flower
heads by cutting below the flowers. For neatness, some gardeners
like to cut close to a leaf instead of leaving a stub; others
shear the blooms off with hedge trimmers. Experiment to find
out what works best for you. Stop removing spent flowers in
early fall so that decorative hips can develop for winter interest.
If you live in a very windy area, you may want to prune long
canes before winter to reduce plant movement.
Disease
Control and Fertilizing
To prevent spreading viruses, clean your pruning tools
with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide after trimming
each plant before moving on to the next plant. A solution
of 10% bleach diluted with water can also be used, but
it can harm the metal blades of your tools. |
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Modern Shrub Rose 'Folksinger' |
Remove all fallen rose leaves and cut pieces during the
growing season and in the fall to help prevent over-wintering
fungus disease. Grow disease-resistant varieties of roses to
avoid blackspot and other leaf fungus problems. Watch for aphids,
which generally occur when flower buds are forming in late spring.
Repel insects and boost rose health by using a spray-on foliar
(leaf) application of products that contain neem oil and organic
fertilizers. I use weak compost teas and compost as mulch instead
of chemical fertilizers to grow healthy roses.
Jennifer Grant
Master Gardener
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Other Articles from this Issue |
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