By Christian Warren Freed
Ah, Holly Springs. Do you ever wonder if the local weatherperson arrives at work, sees what we have in store for the day, and just tosses down the pen to go get a cup of coffee because nothing weatherwise seems to make sense here? With that being said, spring has sprung—at least for today. (Winter might be back tomorrow and then full-blown summer later in the week.)
The screwy weather patterns wreak havoc on the flora and fauna. The big maple in my front yard has been aching to bloom since the end of January and I’ll be darned if I didn’t have my first hyacinth flower in the first week of February.
Thanks to this weather unpredictability, I toy with when to prune back the growth from last year’s roses for weeks, sometimes months every year. Now, I haven’t always been one for gardening or planting. I grew up in the country and had a garden for most of my fresh fruits and vegetables as a kid, but until recently all I did was mow the lawn.
Then, I was out walking my dogs and came upon a house in a nearby neighborhood with a driveway lined with blooming rose bushes. It didn’t take long before I realized I wanted that, too. I called my landscaper, headed to the nursery, and grabbed a few buckets of Knock Out roses.
We ripped out the dying butterfly bushes under the crepe myrtles and planted six or seven roses. Add a little Miracle-Gro and I was amazed by the hundreds of flowers the roses produced throughout the spring and summer. Then they got too big, reaching the lower tree branches.
I called that nursery back and asked, “What am I supposed to do now?” Naturally, I got a few different answers to the question of when to prune rose bushes. Take a peek at the internet and you’ll get even more. Don’t forget to ask family. Every grandparent knows the right time.
Of course, where we live plays a large part in when and how to prune. I was first told no earlier than Valentine’s Day. The second time, I was told by March 1. We can keep playing this game, but one thing is certain: prune your roses after the last freeze. Tricky, right? Back in January, we had a week of subfreezing temps followed by a week in the 70s.
Treating your roses, or your gardens, right requires a delicate touch, the willingness to learn and adapt, and a fair bit of common sense.
Roses need proper pruning to ensure healthy growth and multiple blooms. Unlike the largely unnecessary over-pruning of crepe myrtles that seems rampant around here, roses need to be trimmed down to around 18 inches at the start of spring.
I had my doubts about this at first, but after knocking them all down, the bushes came back healthier, stronger, and bigger. Now, we get about three blooms a year, the latest coming in late October to early November.
Pruning is necessary for a variety of reasons, from controlling the size and shape of your bushes to rejuvenation and health. Regardless of why you do it, the reasons are all equally important for the overall health of the bush. It’s also not a one-and-done situation.
Ask any gardener and they will tell you it all starts with having the proper tools. Head on over to the hardware store and get yourself a good set of sharp hand pruners or, if you have one of those wild, massive-stemmed bushes like I do, you might need a pruning saw. And don’t forget the gloves. Nothing smarts like getting pricked from a nasty thorn.
Once you’re all set, use the pruners to cut a 45-degree angle in the branch. Never cut evenly across. The angled cut helps with water runoff, which is important to maintain a healthy plant. Even (straight) cuts result in water gathering on the end and that can spread disease if you’re not careful.
Work your way around the bush until you have even growth and then move on to the next. Sure, it can be time-consuming and a little prickly, and it sure looks like you murdered the shrub, but in a few months you will be amazed by how healthy and full your roses return.
If you have climbing roses, you need to take a slightly different approach. Conduct their initial pruning at the start of spring and again after they bloom by removing the rubbing or crossing branches and cleaning up the rest. Side shoots should be trimmed back to around 2-3 inches.
Throughout the year, it is important to continue monitoring and maintaining your roses. Deadheading is important to induce additional blooms. This can be done easiest by cutting at an angle just below the old flower. Be on the lookout for dying branches, too. Cut them as far down to the main stem as you can.
One problem we always seem to have is black spots on the leaves. This is a fungus known as diplocarpon rosae and it can spread rapidly before you know it. Fungus is one of the most common diseases you need to worry about but one that can easily be taken care of, provided you are paying attention.
Remove the yellow and black leaves and dispose of them; don’t just let them rot on the ground. The more a rose bush loses its leaves, the weaker the plant gets, and it becomes susceptible to winter damage and other stresses.
The easiest way to prevent the spread of fungus is by watering properly. Do not water the leaves or branches, instead water at the ground level. This actually reduces moisture and lowers the risk of disease. I can’t tell you how many plants I’ve lost from the lack of education and improper practices.
After properly grooming your roses, you need to take the next step and fertilize. Go to any garden supply store and you will find a host of different fertilizers, from organic manure to crystal, seeds, and you-name-it. Far be it for me to guide you in one direction or the other. That’s your choice.
Give it a little time and soon enough you’ll be enjoying hundreds of blooms in any color of your heart’s desire. Did you know there are over 30,000 cultivated varieties of roses in the world, in addition to the 150 naturally wild species?
Not all of them are right for our zone or climate, but that’s another class altogether. Hopefully this has provided you with some good information to get you started or served as a quick rehash for you long-time rose owners and gardeners. Regardless of your experience level, one thing is certain. Few plants in this world are as prominent, sensational, or inspiring as the rose.
Happy gardening, Holly Springs.
For more information, or to get you started with your new or old roses, you can go to the following sites:
Jackson and Perkins: https://www.jacksonandperkins.com/ultimate-guide-rose-types/a/types-of-roses/
Miracle-Gro: https://miraclegro.com/en-us/learn-grow/how-to-prune-roses.html
Garden Design: https://www.gardendesign.com/roses/care.html
The Spruce: Beautiful Gardens Start Here: https://www.thespruce.com/black-spot-on-roses-4125530
