Pruning Roses - How & When??

[Lesley Jay]

The title is the problem I have in my garden - how and when do I prune roses? They are all breaking into new leaf growth so I guess it is sometime soon.

The back garden is a rose garden and all the rose bushes desperately need bringing under control. Last year there were alot of blackened branches on the bushes. Is this a disease or do I just need to cut these out?

I have climbing roses in the front garden on a trellis fence. Can I reduce the height of some of these to get roses lower down the plant?

Thanks!!

[stanhol]

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile...se_pruning.asp

hope this helps. I pruned mine at the end of the season last year. But i would imagine that now is a good time. I pruned down to about knee height, trying to find the shape i wanted its not as easy as it looks on the advice! Hey ho will get it eventually!

The black bits, is it dead wood?

Sandra

[Lesley Jay]

Thanks for the link. I will try and understand it!

Knee height? That sounds a bit severe. I have some very tall rose bushes will they grow back again or do I leave them higher than knee height?

The black bits I assume are dead as no leaves grew on them last year but I did wonder if it could be a disease. The affected branches are yellow turning to black at the ends.

[stanhol]

Hi,

I am no expert at this but i would agree if the rose is big knee high would seem a bit severe! I would bring it down as far as new healthy bud growth.

The dead and black bits should be removed down to healthy growth, i am not sure what it is. I have had a quick look online but cant find anything specific. If you are pruning i guess these bits are going anyway. Maybe see if it returns with the new growth and then we can look again for pest or disease.

Good luck.

Sandra

[Lesley Jay]

Thanks Sandra!