Summertime blooms
My roses had a spectacular year in 2013. They had beautiful blooms all throughout the summer and into the fall. I confess that I didn’t prune them last year. While I’m confessing, I’d might as well add that I had no idea how to prune them. So this year I decided to figure it out. Really, Google makes learning new things so much easier.
Roses throughout the summer
A garden full of roses
It is funny how some things just fall into place. I was at a craft fair in December where I picked up a fabulous pair of pruning gloves, at an even more fabulous price. I love a bargain! That was the final push to prune the roses.
Leather Bradley’s pruning gloves
The leather for the hands is so soft. I love them! You can buy a pair here: http://www.bradleysthetannery.co.uk/gardening/gloves/leather-pruning-gloves
Bradley’s pruning gloves
Here’s a look at the roses before I started:
Rose bush before pruning
They looked really bad. They should be pruned every year, during their dormant time; late fall through February for me. Here’s the hard part, I had to cut… a lot. I found it quite daunting! From what I learned on-line (via Steve McShane’s Nursery), I first cut-off any dead branches. Then I cut the branches at a 45 degree angle about 6 to 8 inches from the base of the plant. There should only be between 3 and 5 canes when finished pruning (that is the hard part!).
Rose plants before being pruned
There was a great deal of cutting to do! I just had to think positive that it is good for the plants. 🙂 What a difference in how they looked after I had finished.
Three pruned rose plants
Pruned to 6-8 inches above the base
After pruning them, I finished clearing away all of the leaf litter. The plants had black spot this year, so it is really important that I clear everything away. I still need to add an organic fertilizer to finish this up. But for now, I’m happy with how the plants look.
Pruned rose plants
Pruned rose garden
There will be another post on organically treating of rose plants in early spring, before any signs of black spot appear. This will be a new adventure for me, which I am looking forward to since I really don’t like the use of harmful chemicals! But that is another blog post…
I hope you enjoyed seeing my roses again. Going through all of my photos from summer just reminds me of how quickly the seasons change. Before we know it, it will be spring again!
Happy New Year!
Dana
Roses to look forward to…
Mom in the Garden 
Beautiful roses for sure! I am not a rose expert but I have grown quite a few over the years and from everything I have learned your pruning is excellent! 3-5 canes is just right and yes it seems that there is nothing left to the plant but they do grow back so happily! I have never fertilized in the winter, I’ve always heard to fertilize in spring once they start growing, but again, I’m not up to speed on all things roses. Looking forward to the organic treatment post!
Thank you so much for the feedback! Phew! My husband wasn’t so sure about my handiwork 😉 I will have to look into when the best time to fertilize is. Stay tuned… Dana
You were very brave to trim them back to so few canes. I have to prune our apple trees quite heavily too but with them only 1/3 of the growth each year but it does help the overall health of the trees. Love your new gloves!
Hi Karen, brave is a nice word! 🙂 Yes, it did feel like I had to be brave. I really took my time and ever so slowly cut back the branches little by little! I still have to prune our apple trees. I’m lucky that the weather is very much not like winter yet (especially the winter you are having!). Thanks for stopping by!