Paso Robles Real Estate

Is It Time to Prune Your Roses?

Well, the answer to that question depends on where you live.  The best time to prune roses is just before the rosebush breaks dormancy after the last frost.  In my case, the right time is when I find the time after January 1…

Pruning allows you to create an attractive shape and desired size that fits into your landscape, and it is also the foundation of a healthy bush producing well-formed flowers.

Whatever kind of rose you are pruning, always cut away the dead wood.  The dead wood will not come back to life, and it is unattractive and harbors diseases.

When pruning, cut at sharp 30 – 45 degree angles, and make all cuts down to a cane, to the base of the bud union or to a strong outside bud or bud eye on stem nodules.  A bud eye is a small bulge with a tiny eye and a horizontal crease below.  This bud eye will develop into a new shoot in spring.

Notice the way the bud eye is pointing.  The bud eye should be pointed away from the center of the rose bush since this eye will become a new cane, and you don’t want new growth protruding toward the center of the bush.

Make cuts about 1/4 inch above the bud and angle the pruning shears high on the outside of the cane down toward the inside of the bush.  I hope this makes sense…

How Much to Prune?

Severe or heavy:  Cut the plant back to 3 or 4 canes.  This will produce a few very showy blossoms.

Moderate:  Cut the plant back to 5 – 12 canes about 18 – 24 inches tall.  This allows for a larger bush and is best suited for most gardens.

Light:  Only one-third of the plant is cut back, which  produces a profusion of short-stemmed flowers on larger bushes.

Light pruning works best on a regular basis, with a heavy pruning every 4 or 5 years.

Personally, I have about 40 rose bushes in my landscaping, and even though they don’t receive all of the care I wish I had time to give them, they still produce a profusion of gorgeous blooms for my table; especially in spring and fall.

Happy Gardening!

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Tags: gardening, landscape, paso robles, pruning roses, rose, roses, San Luis Obispo