Corrective pruning
If you’re worried about whether you pruned ‘correctly’ or ‘incorrectly’, August gives you a second chance to get it right. Even if you haven’t yet pruned, there is still time to do so and it is much easier to see how many eyes have sprouted, showing how the rose wants to grow.
Where strong new growth has sprouted further down the stem, cut back to this growth. Cutting down to this point channels the energy into that area and the result is a strong new stem.
Bushes with forks and side stems may be re-pruned, and the forks reduced to a single stem and the side stems removed.
Light pruning may also be the cause of many short stems developing and some blind shoots. Too many eyes remain on the cut-back stem and they all sprout. Reducing swollen or sprouted eyes by cutting away twigs and forks will channel strength to the remaining new shoots, resulting in better quality stems and blooms on all bush roses (hybrid teas, floribundas, Antico Moderno and Fairy Tale roses).
Corrective pruning is also applicable where stems are too close. As a guideline, the space between stems should be 20cm, or a secateur’s length. This allows enough space for new stems to grow and lets light into the bush. Remove the stems growing towards the centre of the bush or crisscrossing other stems.
Climbing roses that haven’t been trimmed and trained can also be pruned in August. Undo the ties and open up the canes. Remove older branches and tie the remaining stems to a support, as horizontally as possible. By tying the stems horizontally, all the eyes along the stem are activated, which results in shoots and flowers all along the stem, and not just at the end of the stem.