Pruning Rose bushes
Pruning rose bushes can seem like a mystery to some if you've never done it before. It can be somewhat intimidating if you don't know what you're doing. After all, you don't want to kill the roses; you just want to prune them. It takes time and some practice to become an accomplished rose pruner, but it's not impossible for anyone to do. Here are some helpful tips and suggestions on pruning rose bushes.
Why Prune?
Pruning is done to encourage new growth and bloom on the rose bush. It is done in order to remove dead or diseased wood and to improve the appearance of the plant itself. A rose bush can only grow to its full potential if it is pruned properly and given the right amount of sunlight and air. Pruning can also helps to remove the threat of plant disease from the rose bush.
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What do you need to prune a rose bush?
Before you begin pruning your rose bush there are a few basic tools you will need to purchase. Here is a short list of required tools needed to prune a rose bush:
- Sharp By pass pruning shears that can slice the cane instead of crushing it
- Some thick, heavy gloves (to avoid thorn pricks)
- Rubbing alcohol
- Long sleeves to protect your arms
- Long handled pruners, also known as loppers
- A trash can will also come in handy
It's important to make sure that the tools you use are clean, sharp, and sterile. Although many don't believe that dirty tools can harm a plant, but dirty shears can spread disease throughout the plant.
Step 1: Cut at a 45 degree angle
As you see dead or diseased wood during the year you can cut it away at any time, however rose bushes need major pruning in the late winter, early spring months when they are first beginning to send out new growth. You want to cut the stem of the bush at a 45 degree angle, which will be about a quarter inch above a bud facing outside the plant. This ensures that new growth will be directed up and away form the center of the bush which allows for better air circulation.
Step 2: Cut away the dead wood
If you want to successfully prune your rose bush you should make sure to completely cut out any dead wood. You will know it is dead by the color; black or dark grey. Remove any branches that are rubbing against others or crossing each other. When branches rub against one another they can leave the plant open to disease.
Step 3: Decide what to keep
As you become more experience, pruning a rose bush will become automatic to you. However, as a beginner look carefully at your rose bush and pick out anywhere from three to six canes as the ones you want to keep. They should be about as thick as a pencil; any thicker ones need to be trimmed or removed. Cut the rest of the canes away leaving only the keepers. Cut the canes you have decided to keep to about 1-3 feet in height. Clean your tools as soon as you are finished pruning to keep disease from spreading to the plants.
If you want to become experienced at pruning rose bushes be patient; things like this take time and patience in order to master. This should give you a good start on becoming an expert however.
