What to Do
Episode: # 11 16/06/07
Presenter: Kim Syrus
Rose pruning time can often be stressful, worrying about where to start and how much to cut off, however there is no need for that. Kim looks at a quick and simple way to prune your bush roses by removing half the height and half the canes.
Before you start, make sure all blades are sharp for a cleaner, quicker cut. If you have problems with your wrist or arms, then try pruning with long handled loppers; you will be amazed at how much better it is on your body.
Halving the height is simple: just grab the shears and lop the top clean off. This removes most of the foliage, allowing you to peer inside. Halve the number of canes, starting with the old or damaged ones first, these that have lost their vigour and need to be removed, then reduce the number of branches from the remaining fresh and healthy growth. Try to keep the bush as evenly balanced as possible - a better shape now will mean a better shape in spring.
When pruning a thick stem, push it slightly away or to the side as you are cutting. Not only will if cut more easily, it also reduces pressure on your snips and your wrist.
Finish tidying up the plant, cutting off any thin and weak growth. Afterwards, give the plant a spray with either Copper Oxy-chloride or Pest Oil to kill off any fungal spores or over wintering insects.
They say ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’, which is not a bad thing to consider when pruning roses. Try to keep all the cuttings in one, or at least a couple of piles. You would be amazed at how quickly arms and legs can become a tangle when rose clippings are scattered about.
Now, if you just don’t have time for even the simple ‘half the height, half the canes’ pruning method then there are other ways that might interest you, and wake up the neighbours.
Use a hedge trimmer and shear across the top of the bush, taking off around half the height. You might need a couple of passes to get through some of the thicker canes. Don’t worry about the jumble of growth left inside the rose; it will be covered in foliage in no time.
Recent trials have shown that this ‘rose rage’ method to be very effective. You just need to cut the bush back very hard every 3 years, removing around two thirds. This gets rid of the old thick growth and helps rejuvenate the plant.
Now, for more details on pruning, check out Kim’s Easier Rose Pruning article in the latest edition of the Garden Gurus newspaper, then grab your snips and have a go!
Featured Products
Yates Pest Oil
Presenter: Kim Syrus
Rose pruning time can often be stressful, worrying about where to start and how much to cut off, however there is no need for that. Kim looks at a quick and simple way to prune your bush roses by removing half the height and half the canes.
Before you start, make sure all blades are sharp for a cleaner, quicker cut. If you have problems with your wrist or arms, then try pruning with long handled loppers; you will be amazed at how much better it is on your body.
Halving the height is simple: just grab the shears and lop the top clean off. This removes most of the foliage, allowing you to peer inside. Halve the number of canes, starting with the old or damaged ones first, these that have lost their vigour and need to be removed, then reduce the number of branches from the remaining fresh and healthy growth. Try to keep the bush as evenly balanced as possible - a better shape now will mean a better shape in spring.
When pruning a thick stem, push it slightly away or to the side as you are cutting. Not only will if cut more easily, it also reduces pressure on your snips and your wrist.
Finish tidying up the plant, cutting off any thin and weak growth. Afterwards, give the plant a spray with either Copper Oxy-chloride or Pest Oil to kill off any fungal spores or over wintering insects.
They say ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’, which is not a bad thing to consider when pruning roses. Try to keep all the cuttings in one, or at least a couple of piles. You would be amazed at how quickly arms and legs can become a tangle when rose clippings are scattered about.
Now, if you just don’t have time for even the simple ‘half the height, half the canes’ pruning method then there are other ways that might interest you, and wake up the neighbours.
Use a hedge trimmer and shear across the top of the bush, taking off around half the height. You might need a couple of passes to get through some of the thicker canes. Don’t worry about the jumble of growth left inside the rose; it will be covered in foliage in no time.
Recent trials have shown that this ‘rose rage’ method to be very effective. You just need to cut the bush back very hard every 3 years, removing around two thirds. This gets rid of the old thick growth and helps rejuvenate the plant.
Now, for more details on pruning, check out Kim’s Easier Rose Pruning article in the latest edition of the Garden Gurus newspaper, then grab your snips and have a go!
Featured Products
Yates Pest Oil
- For control of citrus leaf miner, scales, mites, mealy bug, aphids and white fly.
- Low toxic and highly effective.
- Includes UV inhibitors which reduce potential leaf burn during hot weather.
- Easy to use.
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