Some roses, left to their own devices, would happily grow very tall and produce only one bloom at the very top. Here, home gardener Maureen McMorrow explains a technique known as "pegging," whereby rose canes are arched and tied back on themselves or on stakes. In time the canes will produce lateral growth rather than the leggy forms they might otherwise take -- and their bloom production will be encouraged throughout their growth.
- First find a supple cane and arch it over and down very slowly -- forcing it could cause breakage (figure A).
- Wrap clear tape around the cane to hold it firmly in place (figure B). (Note: If the tip dies because it's tied too tightly, don't cut it off -- it will still provide support for the cane.
- Keep pegging canes until you have created tiers of roses (figure C). They can be tied just about anywhere: to themselves, to neighboring plants, to stakes....
Tip: Don't tie all the canes on your rosebush; tie only the ones that will make the best structure (figure D).
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