MAKE PRUNING MISTAKES . . .
by Baxter Williams | Houston Rose Society
“Even seasoned rose gardeners make pruning mistakes, albeit few. Here are the likely ones.
- Using unsharpened shears. Sharp shears are MUCH easier to use, and do less harm to the remaining canes.
- Leaving more than 1/4-inch above the selected node, which excess will likely result in dieback. Actually, 1/8-inch is better.
- Cutting to a small diameter stem. If you want the new growth to be strong enough to support a large stem and bloom, you should cut to a pencil-sized stem or larger; smaller ones cause smaller, weaker stems, and smaller blooms.
- Leaving cane stubs at the bud union where a cane has been removed. Cuts at the bud union should always be flush with the surface.
- Forgetting to protect your just-pruned rose bush against fungus diseases.
- Leaving diseased (black-spotted) leaves on the bush. The fungus spores on those leaflets will spread to others on that bush, and to adjacent bushes, and to neighbors’ bushes.
- Listening to false advice, such as always disinfecting after each cut, and making each cut at a 45- degree angle.
- Forgetting to have fun while doing the work.”
Baxter can be emailed at bxtwms@att.net
