Main Menu
Articles Home
Most Popular Articles
Top Authors
Submit Articles
Submission Guidelines
Link to Us
Bookmark
Contact Us

Articles Categories
  ·  Accessories
  ·  Gardening
  ·  Home Improvement
  ·  Home Security
 


Partners
 
Home / Home / Gardening

How To Prune Your Roses For Stunning Results

By:Ron King


Pruning and deadheading are essential to proper rose care. Alas, there are nearly as many opinions about how and when to prune as there are roses in need of pruning.

While seasoned rosarians have their favorite tried-and-true methods, this article is geared toward new-comers who are unsure where to start. As time goes by, you may feel the urge to modify these techniques or even develop new ones of your own. Great! If it doesn't kill your roses, go right ahead.


Rose pruning isn't as complicated as some people make it out to be. In fact, there are only 7 basic rules. If you keep these in mind whenever you pick up your pruning shears, you'll be rewarded with beautiful bushes that reflect the care that you put into them.



Basic Pruning Rules


1. Always remove any dead or decayed growth. This keeps your bushes looking good and denies disease and insects a place to call home.


2. Always keep the center of the bush free of growth. This denies insects a place to live, and allows good air circulation to avoid fungus infection.


3. Remove crossing branches to promote stronger growth.


4. Shape your rose bushes as they grow. This will change them from wild and wooly to prim and proper, as all good roses should be.


5. Always using sharp pruning shears.


6. Clean the shears after each use to remove any disease or fungus spores.


7. Seal the cuts you've made on canes to keep out disease. Regular Elmer's glue works fine and it is cheap.



Pruning Terms And Techniques


Hard (or "Low") Pruning -- Cut canes back to 3 or 4 buds from the base or the bud unions. The end result will be strong canes about 4 to 5 inches in length. This pruning technique works best with new hybrid tea, grandiflora, and floribunda varieties. You should not do hard pruning with established bushes because they may not recycle. The only exception is as a last-ditch effort to revive sick or neglected bushes.

Moderate (or Medium) Pruning -- Cut strong stems back to approximately half of their length. Weaker stems may be cut back even more, if needed. This technique works well with established gardens of floribundas, hybrid teas, grandifloras, and tree roses.

Light (High or Long) Pruning -- Cut the canes back to around 2/3 of their length. After all the unwanted "wood" is removed, any remaining stems are "tipped". Light pruning is not usually recommended for most bushes, because it tends to produce early blooms and poorly developed flowers. Use this technique only if others are not working and the bush is an eyesore.


Proper pruning is easy, and it is the key to a happy, healthy rose garden.



About the Author

Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Visit Grow-Roses-Now to learn more about this fascinating hobby.


Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Top Gardening Articles
  • 1). Mulching Benefits / Organic And Inorganic Mulch Types  By : Francis Kilkelly
    Mulching is the practice of placing a loose surface onto the surface of soil in your flower or vegetable garden in order to protect, insulate and beautify the area. This loose covering is called a mulch and it can be either of an organic or inorganic variety. Examples of mulches include compost, stone and grass clippings. Every gardener should understand the many benefits of mulching the soil in their garden.
  • 2). Beautiful Calla Lilies  By : William Berg
    The Calla Lilies are plants belonging to the Zantedeschia genus in the Araceae family. The genus contains seven plant species and they are all commonly referred to as Calla Lillies. Some of them have other common names as well. Zantedeschia aethiopica is also known as giant white arum lily and common arum lily. Zantedeschia albomaculata is sometimes sold as spotted arum lily, and Zantedeschia rehmannii is known as the pink arum lily.
  • 5). Problem Free Patios, Paving And Paths  By : James Kilkelly
    If you are thinking of creating a patio, courtyard or path within your garden, then I have some helpful information for you. Where to place a path Have a good look at your garden, even if you are just viewing from the comfort of your kitchen, this may give you an idea of where paths should be placed. Viewing a curved pathway, particularly one that wraps behind a border will entice the viewer to exit the house and follow the path to discover what lies at its end.
  • 9). Getting to the top with flagpoles  By : Tom
    Are you in search of the most up-to-date help regarding flagpoles. When you are looking for excellent information about flagpoles, it will be eas


New Gardening Articles
  • 3). Making Your First Garden  By : Joe Bella
    The first thing in garden making is the selection of a spot. Without a choice, it means simply doing the best one can with conditions. With space limited it resolves itself into no garden, or a box garden. Surely a box garden is better than nothing at all.
  • 5). Dream Home Gardening  By : Anna Woodward
    Home gardening is tricky business. Do you ever wonder how you can get your garden to look like those in popular home-and-garden magazines?
  • 6). How To Make Sure Your Wildflowers Survive In Your Home Garden  By : Gregg Hall
    If you have ever taken a walk in the woods you may have seen all the beautiful flowers that can be found right in nature. Did you think to yourself, I wonder what these would look like in my yard? If you have wondered this same thing, here are a few tips for you to make sure your flowers will survive.


 

© 2006 articles2k.com - Privacy Policy