It’s time to prune roses — carefully
Q: My rose bushes are popping out their new leaves pretty well now and a couple of them really need pruning. Can I do the rose pruning now? — L.R., West Side
A: According to the gardening calendar I grew up with, rose pruning is best done the last weekend of March. Well, we’re almost there and if your roses look like mine then I’ll say, “Go for it.”
I will ask that you be ready, willing and able to offer your roses some protective covering if, after your pruning, the bushes throw out gobs of tender new growth and the weather gets frosty. “Frosty,” she says. Hah! With the delightful warm weather we’re experiencing it’s hard to think of a killing hard frost happening this season but stranger things have happened. But since I don’t own or want a crystal ball I am going to prune mine before they get too out of hand.
First, I want you to take stock of your pruners. They need to be very sharp and very clean. Also, you’ll want a wash cloth or clean rag and a bowl filled with rubbing alcohol. Get in the habit of dampening the rag with the alcohol and wipe your pruner blades off often during the pruning process. Keep a small bottle of Elmer’s glue handy and daub each cut to seal it. Sealing the cuts will prevent easy access by insects trying to infiltrate the rose canes. Gloves are always a good idea, even if you prefer working bare-handed, because roses wear thorns. The thorns are stout and hurt if you’re not paying attention.
You should start by getting down at rose level and giving the bushes a good look-see. Watch for canes that are crossed and rubbing. Decide which way you want the bush to grow and eliminate the canes that need to go.
You can shorten a bush up to half its size as long as you make sure there are viable leaf nodes or buds showing below where you plan on cutting. It’s best to cut just above a leaf node, being careful to not damage that nubbin in the least.
After you have the rose trimmed down make sure you inspect the base of the plant. Any canes that are growing out of the gnarly knob (the bud union) at the base of the rose need be trimmed away. Left growing they can sap the strength of the plant.
Next, rework the moats surrounding the roses so the water you offer stays put. When you are done with all of the pruning and moat tending give each bush a deep slow drink of water to get them back in the growing mode.
Spring is just around the corner and it’s a good time to be Digging In. Have fun!