| WHY AND HOW TO PRUNE YOUR ROSES. | | | | Make all rose pruning cuts just above the buds, |
| Rose pruning is a seasonal job that must be done | | | | this is where new shoots will grow so don't |
| for the health of your roses. You must prune | | | | remove the buds. Choose buds that face |
| your roses if you want them to thrive and be | | | | outwards, this will let light into the middle of the |
| lovely. | | | | plant. |
| When you decide to prune, no matter what type | | | | Angle the shears so they are at a 45 degree |
| of rose you are growing, you are making certain | | | | angle and pointing to the middle of the bush, |
| that you have healthy roses. Even if you don't | | | | make the cut 1/4 inch above the bud, back 3 to |
| follow the exact directions, rose pruning will make | | | | 5 leaf branches downwards from top of bloom. |
| your roses grow better. | | | | This cut will be off the main branch. |
| Rose pruning stimulates your roses growth and | | | | Cut the leaf set or stem that is facing the |
| gives your roses exposure to light and air. | | | | outward direction. This will be the high side of a |
| If old roses are not pruned their nutrients will be | | | | cut, on the side the leaf set is on. |
| blocked off, causing the roses to not grow and | | | | The optimum leaf set removal for the first years |
| bloom as much as they could. | | | | trimming is a 3 bunch, but 5 are ok too. The goal |
| Bugs and diseases find roses a great warm place | | | | is to remove as little as possible for the first |
| to winter over in, pruning takes away most of | | | | years season. |
| your problems. | | | | You want to remove or reduce parts of the plant |
| By removing dead wood you are making more | | | | that are not necessary, and which will increase air |
| room for your healthier roses to grow. | | | | circulation and sun distribution, thus improving the |
| When you have roses that are thin stemmed and | | | | health, beauty and bloom of the plant. |
| weak, rose pruning will make them stronger. If | | | | Remove suckers and rootstock coming from the |
| the smaller stems are not pruned they will in time | | | | ground, put all pruning debri in your rubbish bin, not |
| seed and become dormant. Sadly your roses will | | | | in your compost heap. Consider sealing large cuts |
| become smaller. | | | | with white wood glue. |
| Early each spring rose gardeners take out their | | | | Deadheading It is important to pick off all the |
| pruning shears and pull on their gardening gloves | | | | dead flowers from your rose bushes 3 to 4 |
| and prune their roses for the coming bloom. | | | | weeks before the end of the growing season, |
| You need a good sharp pair of pruning shears and | | | | this encourages new flower growth next season. |
| a good thick pair of gloves. | | | | By carefully deadheading as part of your rose |
| If you live in a country that has a mild climate | | | | pruning routine you will have great looking roses. |
| you can prune in late fall as soon as the plants go | | | | Using the deadhead method is typical for the new |
| dormant. | | | | genetically engineered breed of roses. |
| To determine if the wood is alive or dead, make | | | | Older rose varieties at the end of their season |
| a small cut on one of the stems, if the wood is | | | | form rose hips or seeds that need to be left on, |
| alive it will be white. | | | | as they need these to help them grow next |
| Cut out any branches that cross and rub, this will | | | | season, so prune carefully. |
| help prevent your rose plant from getting | | | | Wild roses are left alone most of the time for the |
| unnecessary diseases and give your plant a more | | | | look of the wilderness. |
| appealing shape. | | | | |