Rose Care: Pruning
Amongst the more important aspects of rose care are deadheading and pruning. There are lots of varied opinions concerning when and how you should prune, almost as many as there are rose varieties.
Many rose growers have their own particular favored methods of pruning, but if you are new to rose care you will find some useful tips in this article, which you can modify or use to develop your own techniques.
Rose pruning can seem to be a complicated business, but it isn't really, and in fact there are just four basic rules, as well as some others which are just common sense.
Basic rules
1. You need air circulating well in the center of the bush, so prune branches away from the center. This also helps reduce the chance of fungal infection.
2. Any dead growth should be cut away, as it reduces disease and insect habitat, and also makes the bush look better.
3. Trim bushes into a nice shape, which improves the overall appearance of your garden. Roses should be prim and proper, rather than wild and rugged.
4. Growth will be stronger if you cut crossed branches off.
Common sense tips
Your pruning shears should be sharp, and be sure to clean them after pruning so that fungal spores and disease does not linger there.
Cuts should be sealed using a product such as Elmer's Glue, which works well and is inexpensive. This keeps disease out.
Here are some common rose care techniques and terms connected with pruning, and tips for which roses they should be used for.
'Low' or Hard Pruning
You will need to cut canes that are about 4-5" in length with three or four buds either from the base or bud unions. These canes will be strong ones. This is most effective with grandiflora, new hybrid tea varieties and floribunda roses.
Established bushes, however, may not recycle if you use this method, but it is worth a try if bushes have been neglected or become sick, and you want to revive them.
Medium or Moderate Pruning
Strong stems should be trimmed to half their length, approximately, and weaker ones can be cut back more if you need. This is good for established grandiflora, hybrid teas, floribunda and tree roses.
High, Long or Light Pruning
Canes should be trimmed to around two thirds length, and remaining stems 'tipped' when this has been done. This is good for most varieties, and results in early flowering but poorly developed blooms. Therefore only use it if other methods have not worked well and the bush does not look good.
These rose care tips should help you to have beautiful healthy blooms and a rose garden you can truly enjoy.