"Tono" wrote in message
...
I have a Caribbean (Korbirac) that last fall I pruned down to maybe
4". This year it grew like crazy, gave one single bloom, then about
8 of them at once. (gorgeous!) The flowers are looking pretty
shabby right now. I do see at least one new bud forming. Doing
searches, all the info I can find is how to prune it in the fall.
What do I do with it now? How low do I cut below the old bloom, or
above the main trunk that stem came from? On one site it says it
blooms late summer. Summer is just getting under way here, is it
going to keep blooming all summer?

zone 6a

Thanks,
Tono


The "new" Roygal National Rose Society method of deadheading involves just
"snapping" off the spent blooms at the abcission layer just underneath the
bud and above most leafy growth. Take a look at the spent blooms and let
your eye follow it down the stem. There will be a slight swelling that
looks as though two different plant sections have been joined together just
before you start getting to the true leaf growths.. It is where most roses
die back to naturally if they don't form hips and the blooms are not
removed. If your roses are well watered, grasping the spent bloom and
"snapping' at that point should be a breeze. If they do not snap easily,
then they are experiencing water stress and you need to water more.

This proceedure results in faster bloom flushes and many more blooms because
you are leaving more leaf growth on the plant to produce more energy for
bloom. However, if you are growing hybrid teas that you intend on cutting
for show or for decoration of your own table, the "traditional" method of
cutting the rose back further will leave you with longer stems for this
purpose. The repeat will not be as quick, however, and you will get less
blooms on the bush overall, but the ones that you do get will have longer
stems and be larger.

Whichever method you choose, stop deadheading and feeding at least 6 weeks
before your first frost in order to not encourage new growth that is easily
killed by winter freezes. And, don't prune in fall. Pruning is best done
in late winter/early spring right about the time the forsythia is in full
bloom in your area. Here, that can be anytime from mid Feb to mid March,
depending on the winter. Your time should probably be late March to late
April. Consult with a local rosarian to be sure. The American Rose Society
www.ars.org has a list of local rose societies that one can join and receive
their monthly bulletins that have tips timed to local care.

Good luck with Carribean. It's a nice rose, but far to prone to black spot
for me to grow here without spraying, as I grow the majority of my roses.
It will probably need spraying to prevent disease in your area as well.

Sunflower
MS 7b