By Angie Noack
Pruning and deadheading are important parts of your rose careroutine. There are as many different opinions about how and whento prune as there are roses in need of pruning.
While individual rosarians may have their favorite "tried andtrue" methods, this article is geared towards new rosarians whohave no idea where to start. As time goes by you may feel theurge to modify these techniques or even develop some new ones ofyour own. That's great. Variety is the spice of life andanything that doesn't kill your roses can't be that bad, right?
Rose pruning isn't as complicated as some people make it out tobe. In fact, there are only four basic rules and a few commonsense ones. If you keep these basic rules in mind every time youpick up your pruning shears, you'll be rewarded with beautifulbushes that reflect the care that you put into them.
1. Always keep the center of your bushes free of growth. Thisdenies insects a place to live, and allows good air circulationwhich helps to keep down the instances of fungus infection.
2. Always remove any dead or decayed growth. This keeps yourbushes looking better and also denies disease and insects aplace to call home.
3. Shape your rose bushes as they grow. This adds symmetry toyour garden and transforms your bushes from wild and wooly toprim and proper like all good roses should be.
4. Remove crossing branches to promote stronger growth,
Common sense rules
Always using sharp pruning shears and clean the shears after useto remove any disease or fungus spores.
Seal the cuts you've made to keep out disease. Save your moneyand use regular Elmer's glue. it works just fine and it's a lotcheaper than commercial preparations.
Here's a look at common pruning terms and techniques as well assome guidelines for what types of roses to use them with.
Hard or "Low" Pruning
Cut canes back to three or four buds from the base or the budunions. The end result is strong canes which are about 4 to 5inches in length.
This pruning technique works best with new hybrid tea,grandiflora, and floribunda varieties. You should not do hardpruning with established bushes because they may not recycle.The only exception is as a last-ditch effort to revive sick orneglected bushes.
Moderate or Medium Pruning
Cut strong stems back to approximately half of their length.Weaker stems may be cut back even more if needed.
This technique works fine with established gardens offloribundas, hybrid teas, grandifloras, and tree roses.
Light or High/Long Pruning
Cut the canes back to around 2/3 of their length. After allunwanted wood is removed any remaining stems are "tipped".
Light pruning is not generally recommended for most bushes as ittends to produce early blooms and poorly developed flowers. Usethis technique only if others are not working and the bush is aneyesore to begin with
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