On 06/08/2011 01:51, rose wrote:
When I took over my allotment a few years ago, there was a rose tree/bush
that I presume started out as a "proper" rose but has since gone wild. The
trouble is that I've never been sure how to prune it.

It's approximately 9 foot high, but the first 3 foot at least is just bare
"trunk". It used to flower, but the last couple of years it hasn't (probably

That sounds a bit like it is an old rose variety that is growing on its
own roots. If it was wild there would be a fair number of suckers from
the vigorous rootstock rather than a single stem.

due to my pruning). What I've done the last couple of years, to try and get
it under control is chop off about half the height of the stems that have
leaves on them, but all that happens is they shoot up within a couple of
months to the same height (if not a little higher) to what I cut off, and
don't even flower now.

It will next year flower on this years wood. If you keep cutting that
off then next year you get no flowers. Best bet is cut some bits right
back to a couple of buds from the main stem, some back by two thirds,
some by a third and leave a few stems at full length if you can tie them
in out of the way. Weak stems get cut out completely and strong stems
leave as long as you dare.

What I would really like to know, is can I prune it severely even to where
the trunk part is? Would this promote growth to start lower down. The trunk

Possibly not. I have seen very old rose trees go the way you describe
with a long lower stem with no new growth on it. There are a couple of
old roses here that look similar after a few decades of growth.

is very old looking a gnarly, would it send new shoots out or not? Id prefer
it to be a height of about 6 foot, with less bare trunk and of course to be
flowering again.

Best chance to see some flowers next year is leave a few stems at full
length this year and tie them in out of the way. Prune the rest by
varying amounts to improve the shape and remove crossing branches.

What you have been doing so far simply encourages the plant to put on
lots of soft whippy new growth that is not sufficiently mature to
flower. Like chopping all the ends of branches a tip bearing apple tree.

You can get the same problem by incorrect pruning of pyracantha if you
cut off all the new wood that would mature and have flowers next year.

Regards,
Martin Brown