When you begin planting your roses, take care to place the graft union of the plant just above the surrounding soil (figure A). The graft union is the point where the foliage is attached to the rootstock. This will keep the plant out of any disease-prone positioning. It is a good idea to make a basin of topsoil around each rose plant (figure B) to help control the amount of water and fertilizer. When this task is completed, you should mulch each basin to prevent weed growth. Most rose gardens are under pruned and the result is spindly growth and fewer flowers. Thick rose branches -- or canes -- produce large flowers. Instructions: - Use a pencil as a guide to decide when its time to prune. Cut off any growth smaller in diameter than the pencil. Anything smaller will only produce side-shoots.
- Regularly prune rose bushes in a vase shape to allow air circulation and sun to reach all the leaves. The center of the shrub should be open.
- Prune individual rose canes down to the outward-facing growth node. This encourages outward growth that will further enhance the vase shape of the shrub.
- When pruning individual canes, cut back to the stronger, thicker parental canes. Always cut off any dead or diseased canes (figure C).
Expert tip (Kristin Cantrell, Monrovia Growers): It is important to prune a hybrid tea rose with a "vase" shape and an open center since roses are extremely susceptible to mildew and black spot. Since these maladies are caused by humidity and moisture, the open center will help prevent their onset by encouraging sufficient air circulation.
GUESTS :
Kristin Cantrell
Plant Specialist (SE Regions), Monrovia Growers
Monrovia Nursery
E-mail: kcantrell@monrovia.com
Website: www.monrovia.com
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