April 15, 2019
When tax time rolls around , you need to prune your roses.
For Hybrid Teas, Florabundas, Grandifloras, and David Austin roses you should prune one half to two thirds of the cane. Rugosas and Climbers should be pruned about one third of the cane. If the rose is 3 or 4 years old, look at the center of the plant and take 2 or 3 canes out. This opens up the rose for better air circulation.
You will have die back from the cold weather. Start pruning until you see a creamy white center. Make your cuts on an angle. If the center is brown, take more. Use Elmers wood glue to seal the end of the canes. Add a little bit of food coloring to the glue to help you see which canes have been done. This prevents cane borers from getting into your plants.
Now is the time to start fertilizing. Fish emulsion is a good start because it will not harm the tender roots It’s mixed at the rate of 2 tablespoons per gallon of water. Use half a gallon per plant. After two weeks scratch in half a cup of Rose Tone per plant.
You should also spray around each rose for any residual black spot. A good Copper based fungicide will prevent the black spot from getting a foothold in your roses.
I look forward to seeing you this coming season. Our first rose delivery will be around the 22nd of April. Check the website for our rose classes, Beginner’s Guide to Roses and The ABC’s of Roses.
Have a rose question? Larry can be reached at larrytheroseguy@gmail.com.
Learn All About Roses from Larry Hill aka Larry the Rose Guy. Larry loves talking about roses and sharing his knowledge and love of roses with others. After growing roses for over 15 years, Larry has a wealth of information to share with all of you. He currently serves as Vice President of Southwest Michigan Celebration of Roses.
