On President’s Weekend, or maybe earlier if all chance of frost is gone, I begin pruning my roses.
First: have all pruners and long handled pruners very sharp. Have a container of Hydrogen Peroxide to dip pruners in after cutting any roses you know had fungal black spot. I tend to dip mine & wipe them off after every two or three. This prevents spreading any disease to further plants.
Second: Big question is height to prune. If you show roses and want fewer, but bigger roses, height should be 12 to 18 inches high. For landscape color—more blossoms, but perhaps smaller, I go thigh high. I cut off any branch that is smaller than my pointer finger. Cut all crossing canes and cut out any dark or dead wood. Cut a 45 degree angle above a bud. See photo.
The cane on the right is the acceptable cut. 45 degrees with bottom of cut above the opposite base of the bud. All other cuts will cause death of above cut cane. The beauty of the rose is that it is very forgiving. If you mess up on a cut, go lower to the next bud eye and cut again. If any splitting occurs, also go lower and cut again.
I have been told many times at rose seminars that you prune all roses the same. I have found that not to be the case. First of all, I leave all tea roses with fewer good strong canes (usually around eight). Floribundas I leave more. The David Austins and shrub roses can be thinned very little. The exception to the tea roses is Peace, Dr. Brownell, and their descendents. I cut them according to growth, and a little higher than the other tea roses. I picked that tip up from a wonderful little old lady years ago, and they have been much happier and more productive since I figured this out. On climbers leave several good strong canes—basically a tall version of tea roses. Miniatures are a small version of the same.
With 126 to do, I will be very busy for the next couple weeks. Happy pruning. Though I know it is a lot of work, the only thing that hurts a rose is not pruning. I think of it as molding a piece of art.
My last segment will be next time. I will tell you exactly how I fertilize and fungicide and insecticide to have beautiful roses all summer long.
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