Breeder News

It’s no secret that roses are falling back in fashion with home gardeners. In and out of vogue since the days of Cleopatra, these days we’re less crazed about the super tight, ” Will-you-accept-this-rose ” version of the flower and much more enamored with the garden variety —meaning old-school forms, such as those coming from the English floral breeder David Austin . Though roses have a reputation for being finicky and hard to care for, it’s easier than you’d think to grow your own . Feeding during their growing season and pruning during their dormant season one the basic rules to follow. Here’s everything you need to know to get the latter done. First, Understand Timing Roses want to be pruned just before they wake from their winter dormancy. This will be very early in the year in warmer climates and any time between January and April where it’s cold. Get the Right Tools A clean, sharp pair of pruning shears is key. If you’re working with older bushes with woody canes, you might also need a pruning saw. Lastly, get yourself a strong pair of leather gloves to protect yourself from the thorns. Roses bite. Why Pruning Is Important Sure, your bush might very well survive without being pruned, but over time, you’ll have a much weaker, much less attractive plant. A weaker plant is more susceptible to pests and diseases. A properly pruned plant is cleared of diseased canes. The pruning triggers vigorous growth of strong canes, certain to bring you plenty of blooms come next spring and summer. Initial Clean Up Start with the obvious by removing any small, twiggy growth, dead, diseased, or crossing canes. Remove Suckers Most roses are sold as grafted plants, meaning the desired variety is inserted into the rootstock of another strongly rooted variety. Suckers refer to any canes that emerge beneath that graft, also known as the bud union. You want to remove them by digging down to their start below the bud union and pulling them off with a twist of your fingers. Create Circulation Open up the center […]

(Photo at top by Alina Sofia on Unsplash)

Source: www.yahoo.com