Pruning

Though many plants grow happily without intervention, pruning encourages bushier healthy growth. It’s other purpose is to remove dead or diseased plant growth to improve the health of the plant. Sharp tools are always necessary to provide a clean and smooth cut so it is worth investing both time and money in choosing the right tool.

Though there are several different types of secateur they are based on two types of cutting action – bypass and anvil. Bypass as the name suggests is where the blades bypass each other like scissors with the top blade being sharp and the bottom being flat. Anvil design is where the top sharp blade cuts down on top of a wider flat plate creating a similar type of cut to that of using a knife on a chopping board.

They come in many different styles and can have spring loaded or rachet action. They also come in varying weights and strengths making finding a pair to suit your needs easier.

Written by Day Lily on 2007/02/11 | Permalink to this article

When to Prune Bush Roses

Generally roses are pruned between autumn when their leaves are starting to fall and spring when new buds are starting to break into leaf. Saying this, roses can be pruned if necessary during the summer but this will slow down the growth and can reduce flowering.

Newly Planted Roses

As a rule most newly planted bare root roses except climbers should be pruned back heavily after planting removing between half and two thirds of the top growth if this has not already been done by the supplier. This can see a waste of a good new plant but it encourages it to develop a better root system which helps the plant become better established which in turn generates more vigorous top growth. Newly planted pot grown roses in full growth can be planted and left alone, although a prune would again encourage root development helping the rose to become better established at the cost of losing flower production for that season.

Established Rose Pruning

• Spring – Prune any frost damage wood that has occurred over winter
• Summer – Prune to remove faded blooms or damaged wood
• Autumn – Prune roses by two thirds but not during frosts

Written by Day Lily on 2007/11/13 | Permalink to this article

The Basics of Pruning Roses

Bush Roses

When looking at a rose stem in autumn you will see that every inch or so is a small ring around the stem and just above this you can see a little red tip which is called the bud. As you work your way along the stem you can will that each bud faces a different direction. Where possible rose stems are pruned to a healthy bud that is outward facing as this bud will develop into a branch growing outwards allowing the bush to develop with an open habit. This allows for good air circulation, an improved shape and reduces the risk of branches rubbing against each other causing wounds which are prone to infection. To prune to a bud a cut is made with sharp secateurs about 1/4 of an inch above the bud on an angle sloping down away from the bud. If a cut is made too high up from a bud die-back can occur resulting in further pruning to remove the dead and diseased wood.

Climbing Roses

Climbing roses are treated differently to shrub roses when it comes to pruning. Generally main stems of climbers shoul not be pruned but trained around the structure they are being grown up with faded flowers and dead or damaged wood being removed. The side shoots come autumn, that have developed from the main stem are what should be pruned to encourage further flowering stems to develop. The same method of pruning applies as for bush roses, pruning to just above a healthy bud. Old climbing roses that become bare at the base can benefit from renewal pruning which is were a couple of the main stems are cut back to a healthy bud about 12 inches from the ground. This encourages new growth from the pruned branches, thickening the base of the plant. Once these new branches have advanced up the support and taking over, renewal pruning can be carried out on a couple more of the older bare stems.

Written by Day Lily on 2007/11/12 | Permalink to this article