Prune When?? Become a Weather Watcher

By Sandy Lundberg

(From The Charleston Rose, January-February, 1999)

You must become a weather watcher. You must let Mother Nature, rather than the calendar, tell you when t o prune. Since 1995 when I began writing this column, I have advocated this pruning principle.

In the Lowcountry (Charleston, SC), we normally prune at the end of February. But in recent years the weather, with its unpredictable nature, has sprung unwelcome surprises on us. Last year, 1998, we were hit with two nights of 20-degree hard freezes the second week of March, which is extremely unusual. Last fall, the weather stayed hot until well into November. And now, in early January 1999, we have had near record lows.

Time Your Pruning

What does this mean for you and your roses? It's anybody's guess as to whether

our weather will be typical at pruning time. The best advice I have is to study the long-range weather forecasts and let the plants tell you when to prune. It is time to prune

when the bud eyes become red and slightly swollen. Pruning too early, coupled with an unexpected cold snap, can result in short stems, blind shoots, and rosette type growth.

Why Prune?

Pruning produces strong growth in healthy canes, and encourages new ones to grow -- new, healthy, vigorous basal breaks. Remove the older canes and leave the one or two-year old canes when possible.

Needed Equipment

• Pruning Shears. Always use sharp pruning shears that have a curved blade (secateurs). Felcos are preferred by most rosarians and they come in several sizes and models. Shears with straight cutting edges will mash the stems and canes, leaving bushes susceptible to insect and disease damage.
• Pruning Saw. A sharp pruning saw is a necessity for removing large canes. Many models are available, but my favorite is a Felco 60 which cuts easily though very large canes, locks when in use, and folds into the handle.
• Loppers. A sharp pair of Toppers (long-handled pruners) are needed to reach inside the rose bush and access the bud union.
• Pruning Gloves. Good sturdy thorn proof gloves, preferably gauntlet style, are essential protection for the rosarian.
• Disinfectant Solution. Clean equipment with full strength rubbing alcohol to prevent spread of disease. Pour some alcohol into a small jar for dipping pruning equipment during the pruning process.

Pruning Basics

• Clean the beds of old fallen leaves before you begin to prune. Pull back the winter protection to expose the bud union and the ground around it. Keep mulch nearby in case you need it again if a freeze is expected.
• Study the plant to help decide on pruning strategy.
• Remove damaged canes, diseased canes, and growth showing freeze damage. If you see brown pith in the center of a cane, continue to prune until the center reveals white pith. If necessary, remove damaged canes union.
• Disinfect pruners, loppers, etc. as you proceed from bush to bush to prevent spreading disease.
• Remove all but three to five good healthy canes. However, many knowledgeable rosarians say it is fine to leave more canes as long as the canes are robust and healthy.
• Remove weak canes that are less than the diameter of a pencil as they will not produce vigorous growth. Their removal will encourage new strong basal breaks and large thick canes that support good growth.
• Make cuts to a height of 18 to 20 inches. The cuts should be made at a 45 degree angle above an outside bud eye.
• Seal pruning cuts with some type of sealer such as Elmer's Glue or orange shellac
• When finished, the bush should be open in the center with a vase or urn shape.
• Cut away any leaves remaining from last year's growth. Cutting rather than stripping will prevent tears and damage to the canes.
• Finish up by spraying the entire garden with a good effective fungicide and insecticide solution at regular strength. Then, the weekly spray maintenance program should begin.

Pruning Minis and Floribundas

Miniature roses may be pruned, depending on the size and age of the bush, to a height of 10 to 12 inches.

Floribundas that produce sprays should not be pruned as heavily as hybrid teas. A finished floribunda should look similar to a tree with some branching evident.

Pruning Grafted Fortuniana Bushes

Rose bushes grafted to fortuniana understock should not be pruned as low as the typical hybrid tea bush. Diann Giles (of the Giles Nursery) recommends a height of 16 inches.