porthealth.blogg.se - Pruning iceberg roses in southern california

And dormancy is not the goal, only a consequence.) (This is the only time I force a plant to go dormant. The leaves on the plants also interfere with obtaining a good coverage when I apply a dormant spray. Rose leaves will harbor pests that will attack in the new growing season, both insects and fungus (especially rust). In any climate, try to collect all fallen leaves. If you live in a mild-winter climate and your roses are still in leaf when you prune them, pluck all the leaves off (a real bother on a climbing rose with canes 10-15 feet long).

(Climbers are quite a different subject see below.) I prune my taller roses to about 2-3 feet and my shorter roses to 1-2 feet. Leave longer canes for those roses that grow vigorously.On a thin branch, a bud is much more easily recognized. On a thick cane, a bud is the small nub that lurks just above the point where a leaf used to grow. Look carefully some buds are hard to see. Heading cuts should be made just above a bud that faces away from the center of the bush. Any cane or branch that you keep should be headed.

After a while, a vigorous sucker will dominate the plant and the grafted variety might die out entirely. Such a cane is likely a sucker from the root stock and will not grow true to the variety grafted onto that stock. Definitely remove any cane that grows out of the soil or from below the swollen graft union.If that does not work, consider replacing the shrub.

The magnesium promotes the growth of new canes. Use about two tablespoons for a small shrub and a quarter-cup for a larger shrub. If a bush has no new canes, add Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) to its first feeding of the spring. But do remove all twigs and stunted growth. No, you do not have to remove all side branches from the canes. (For climbers, keep a mixture of new and mature canes.) Sometimes, three well-placed young canes can be best. Don't keep more than five canes on a bush four are even better. Of course, a well-placed older cane might be better than an awkward newer cane.

Try to keep new canes and remove old canes.

Other canes the same size may be old and woody, not easily cut even with lopping shears. Some thick rose canes may be quite young and succulent, easily cut by hand shears. No, I do not subscribe to any size standard when judging which tool to use. Forcing the shears will both injure the plant and damage the tool. For even harder cuts, use a fine-toothed pruning saw. If a stem is too thick or hard, use lopping shears (pruning shears with very long, heavy handles). Try to see where symmetry can be created by an judicious cut. Imagine how the plant might grow out over your lawn or a walkway (very bad if someone walks into thorns). Visualize in your mind how much height is added by new growth. Picture how you want it to look in the coming summer.

Before you start to cut, take a minute or two to study the plant.

They interfere with plucking leaves or dabbing glue.) (I admit it! I don't normally use gloves. And thorns can give deep scratches and even cuts. Besides scratches from thorns - not avoidable even with gloves and long sleeves - there is always a risk that you might slip with the shears or saw.

Make sure your tetanus shot is current.

You need to see diagrams of a well-pruned rose and of proper cuts. I have also seen other books that appeared quite good. Sunset has an excellent all-climate pruning book that also covers other flowering shrubs, fruit and ornamental trees, grapes and other vines, and other woody plants. Either go to the library and borrow one, or go to a bookstore and buy one. If your winters are severe, wait until the worst of the freezing is over. Often, I cut a small bouquet of roses for my wife while pruning. If you live in a climate such as mine, with mild winters, do it even while your roses are still blooming, in December or January.

Time your pruning according to the weather.

Here are my suggestions on rose pruning (more philosophy than technique). (The copyright notice also applies to the rose photographs.)įrom Christmas into January, I prune my roses, peach tree, and grapes.

Note: My Web pages are best viewed with style sheets enabled. Garden Experiences by David Ross - Pruning Roses