Pruning and caring for roses isn't tricky or difficult whether you
are a seasoned rose gardener or even just a beginner. Roses are
one of the easiest and most rewarding flowering shrubs to grow.
With proper pruning and some basic rose care, you will be able to
produce some spectacular roses that will be the envy of your
neighborhood!
Rose Pruning Basics
Roses should be pruned by late winter or very early spring.
The new buds will begin to swell early so keep watch and don't start
too late. Make sure that you start with good quality sharp,
clean pruners. Most important of all: when pruning roses
make sure you have a good pair of
gardening gloves and wear a long sleeved shirt!
Cut just above an outward facing bud
All pruning cuts should be made at a 45 degree angle.
Make each cut about one quarter to one half inch above an outward
facing bud. Cutting above an outward facing bud means that the new
growth will be outward, away from the center of the plant which
improves air circulation and gives the rose bush an attractive overall
shape. If possible, dab on a bit of pruning seal after each cut.
If you don't have that, some gardeners substitute white glue!
Prune back the rose bush until you have anywhere from four to eight healthy
looking canes. How tall you leave the bush will depend on the
type of rose that you are growing. In general you want to
encourage a bowl shape shrub with new growth facing outward.
Make sure you also remove any diseased or blighted leaves from the
bush itself and from the ground surrounding it.
Cut right to the live tissue
When you are cutting back, make sure that you prune
right to where there is live or green tissue. It should look
light colored and healthy, not dark and porous. Dead
branches need to be removed completely. Saw them off right to
the base of the rose bush. Remove all the thin and spindly
growth as well. Generally anything that is thinner than a pencil
should be cut out. Take off all the suckers too. Suckers are
healthy looking canes than grow from below the grafted section on the
main stem of the rose bush.
Fertilizing
Roses will benefit from feeding about three times a year.
Feed them in the early spring, right after you prune, then again
when the first blooms appear and once more in late summer or early
fall. When you first plant your new rose bush add a handful of
bonemeal to get the roots off to a good start.
Watering
Roses need regular watering in order to produce the
biggest and most beautiful blooms. Make sure that when you
water, the moisture reaches down to the bottom of the roots, which is
generally about eighteen inches. It is better to give a good
watering once a week or so rather than a light sprinkle every other
day. Good deep watering will develop a healthy root system
resulting in a vigorous healthy rose bush. As well, try to water
with a hose or drip system from underneath the leaves as leaving water
on the rose leaves themselves can encourage disease.
Location
Finally, make sure that your rose bush gets
enough sun. Roses need a minimum of six hours of sunshine
each day, but more is even better. Your roses also need space so
allow enough distance between plants to provide good air circulation
between plants.
When you purchase a new rose bush it will come with
specific comments and instructions about proper care and maintenance
specific for its type. Visit some the merchants we have reviewed
such as Gurney's or Henry Field's to see their selection of some really lovely
garden roses.
