Rose Pruning
Mar. 15th, 2025 03:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hobby_gardeningI learned how to prune roses from an elderly gardener when I was in my twenties. It goes something like this:
1. Study the rose.
2. Remove dead wood.
3. Remove weak growth.
4. Hope that you have something left to work with!
5. Reduce to an outward growing bud all round.
6. Remove all central growth.
7. Walk away.
These guides work well with strong, healthy roses. What do you do when all the previous year's growth is spindly? That's what I'm faced with, with two roses. They had spent several years in containers and last year I transferred them to the soil. I knew it would be difficult; roses don't like to be moved. What makes matters worse is that both of these roses are of gradual growth - not vigorous. If I followed my usual pruning plan I would be likely to cause more weak growth.
Instead I've cut them back severely to just above the graft. The weather has been dry for weeks but as soon as we have rain I'll apply Fish, Blood and Bone Meal to wash in. I'm hoping for strong growth that I can prune in the usual way, better late than never. If not I'll just accept what comes and hope for better next year. They're both very attractive roses and I hope to keep them. They may just need more time to settle into their new positions.
1. Study the rose.
2. Remove dead wood.
3. Remove weak growth.
4. Hope that you have something left to work with!
5. Reduce to an outward growing bud all round.
6. Remove all central growth.
7. Walk away.
These guides work well with strong, healthy roses. What do you do when all the previous year's growth is spindly? That's what I'm faced with, with two roses. They had spent several years in containers and last year I transferred them to the soil. I knew it would be difficult; roses don't like to be moved. What makes matters worse is that both of these roses are of gradual growth - not vigorous. If I followed my usual pruning plan I would be likely to cause more weak growth.
Instead I've cut them back severely to just above the graft. The weather has been dry for weeks but as soon as we have rain I'll apply Fish, Blood and Bone Meal to wash in. I'm hoping for strong growth that I can prune in the usual way, better late than never. If not I'll just accept what comes and hope for better next year. They're both very attractive roses and I hope to keep them. They may just need more time to settle into their new positions.
