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Pruning Roses sounds far more complicated than it needs to be!

Basically here is what you will want to do:

When: prune when dormant between mid-Dec. and early February even into March.  Keep Roses tidy throughout growing periods, clipping dead, broken or diseased branches. (dormancy period may differ in other areas)

How:

• Remove dead stuff.

• Cut off suckers.

• Open the center.

• Remove all except 4 – 6 canes.

• Cut these back about by half, more or less.

• Cut to a bud pointing outside, about 1/4″ above the bud.

• Remove and rake up remaining leaves.

There are four fungus diseases that attack rose foliage, and they overwinter on the leaves. Reducing those diseases is one of the primary goals of pruning. Pick off all the remaining leaves if you have the patience and rake up the ones on the ground.

New buds start to grow in February/March, but that isn’t too late to prune. It just gets harder to see what you’re doing, and delays the first bloom. To open the center take out crossing branches, twiggy stuff– anything cluttering the inside of the bush. The purpose is to allow more light and air into the bush, reducing diseases. I usually cut to a bud that is newly forming just above the older growth, you can cut back as much as you like – from 12 – 30 inches is ideal! The more you cut back the less flowers, but the healthier the stocks. Pruning of climbing roses which bloom all spring and summer follows the same general principles: cut out dead stuff, remove the oldest canes if you can, and shorten the plant.

Pruning your roses is easy, but you need to do it yearly to in fact see the rewarding results!
Things can get extremely technical with pruning angles and such.. but do not worry about it unless you plan on becoming a professional Rose Gardener!

Did you know Roses love bananas.. Banana peels contain many useful nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, sulfur, phosphates and sodium. The peels rot quickly, which means these nutrients are readily available to the plant. You can use both the banana and the peels… I add anywhere from 3 – 4 peels per Rose bush per month in the growing season, simply chop them up and side dress along side your Rose!

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