 |
Rose
Bush Pruning
By Patti Sevigny
UC Cooperative Extension Napa County Master Gardener Have you ever
driven through the Napa Valley in January and noticed that the vineyards
seem to be dead, wondered how those gnarled stumps and scrawny plants
could produce anything let alone an amazing bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon?
One of the most important jobs of gardeners and vineyard workers
alike, pruning is done during this time of year when the plants
are dormant. Much like grapevines, rose bushes need to be pruned
every year to renew the plant. Old canes will not produce grapes
or roses.
The first thing you must do is to make sure you have a good pair
of pruning shears. Do not use the flat anvil shears – only
the scissor type. Remove old canes that produce no strong growth,
branches crossing through bush’s center and weak stems. Find
the outward facing bud eye (on the stem where leaf was attached)
and cut half inch above it. A proper cut slants at almost a 45-degree
angle pointing up and out. Cut all lateral or side branches away
that are smaller than the diameter of a pencil. The new growth will
always be of a smaller diameter than the lateral. Shorten all remaining
canes, you should not remove more than one third of the height of
the bush. Prune the rose bush so that the center is open, this will
improve the air circulation. Handouts with more details on rose
pruning are available from the UC Cooperative Extension office in
Napa. In late February or early March you can apply some rose fertilizer
to give new growth a boost.
With both grapevine and rose bush pruning, the secret is knowing
how much to remove and how much to leave. The first year I pruned
my roses I did not remove enough old growth but with practice, experience
and following the above guidelines I am now proud to show off robust
rose plants. Most of all there is nothing nicer than being able
to bring a host a beautiful bouquet of roses right from your own
garden.
Patti Sevigny
UC Cooperative Extension Napa County Master Gardener
http://cenapa.ucdavis.edu |
|
|
