"quess who" wrote in message
...
I know that this is not the tme to prune roses.

I have a Mr Lincoln and a Queen Elizabeth that have grown very tall
and lanky. My thought is to cut these two down to just above ground
level to encourage new growth that is stubbier and more at eye level.
Can I do this to these two types of roses?

Where are you? Weather makes a difference. I usually prune in late
winter/early spring. That's usually the best time. Around here, late
winter/early spring is often January. Where my sister lives, in New
Hampshire, it's closer to June.

Mr. Lincoln is a Hybrid Tea. Generally you don't prune those lower than
about 12" to 18" above ground level. If you prune "just above ground level"
you chance killing the scion (the part above the root stock - Mr Lincoln)
and encouraging the plant to revert to the root stock. I.e., pruning that
low will probably kill your rose.

Queen Elizabeth is a Grandiflora. Generally you don't prune big plants
lower than about 18" to 36" above ground level.

Unless you are in Australia or New Zealand (spring), you shouldn't be
pruning now. Pruning is best done just as rose bushes come out of dormancy,
in late winter or early spring.

That said, you can prune canes that are clearly dead at any time.

Pruning isn't just a matter of cutting all the live canes down to a length
you happen to prefer. You need to clean out the center to encourage air
circulation (minimize diseases), prune crossing canes (minimize damage as
canes rub together), etc.

Check the articles at the American Rose Society web site on pruning
techniques, timing, etc.:
www.ars.org

And/or pick up Ortho's All About Roses - it's cheap, available, and even the
used copies are well worth having.

Gail
near San Antonio TX Zone 8 USA