Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
pruning knockouts now?
I'm not a gardener by any stretch of the imagination, so I know very
little of the terms and things "everyone should know". We recently redid our front bed (in Houston, TX), and put 3 knockout roses in there becase the nursery told us we bascally couldn't kill them. Man were they right! They're now about 3 1/2 - 4 feet high and going like gangbusters. We'd like to trim them back to maybe 2 1/2 to 3 feet and just get them a little more under control (looking a little spindly right now) and more in scale with the rest of the bed. Questions: - Can we cut them back to that size now? - Should we? - If not, when should we, and - What is the best technique (where to prune, which stalks to prune, etc.) - Do we prune all the stalks to the same level, or cut some off completely and others leave the length we want? I meant it about not knowing much, so the more your answers resemble talking to a 3rd grader, the better. 8 ) Thanks! -- Todd |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
pruning knockouts now?
wrote in message ps.com... I'm not a gardener by any stretch of the imagination, so I know very little of the terms and things "everyone should know". We recently redid our front bed (in Houston, TX), and put 3 knockout roses in there becase the nursery told us we bascally couldn't kill them. Man were they right! They're now about 3 1/2 - 4 feet high and going like gangbusters. We'd like to trim them back to maybe 2 1/2 to 3 feet and just get them a little more under control (looking a little spindly right now) and more in scale with the rest of the bed. Sounds like you might have done better to plant the Knockouts behind the other plants so you can let them grow to their natural height. A possibility for another year? Questions: - Can we cut them back to that size now? It's usually better to (1) prune in late winter/early spring (2) let a rose get established (one year) before hacking away at it. (Climbers should be left alone for 2-3 years). Especially in our south Texas heat, it will take awhile for roots to get established. The more leaves (on canes) you remove, the more stressed the rose is likely to be. The more stressed, the more susceptible to diesease, drought, etc. etc. - Should we? If some of the canes are in the way of walking by, getting to other plants, etc., then you could probably do some minor pruning to "shape". - If not, when should we, and I pruned late this year and was pruning into late spring (= mid summer, as you know g). The roses I pruned are doing fine so far but most are well established (several years in the ground). - What is the best technique (where to prune, which stalks to prune, etc.) Canes, not stalks. Generally: Prune down to an outward facing leaf bud. Prune to open up the center of the rose (for better air circulation - especially in hot, humid Houston). Prune to remove canes that cross over and rub against other canes. Usually removing some canes in the center will accomplish that. See articles at www.ars.org for pruning techniques or invest in a relatively cheap Ortho All About Roses available at bookstores, Lowes, Home Depot, etc. About $15, lots of good information and very useful pictures & illustrations. I have dozens of rose books some of them rather expensive, and I still rely most heavily on my cheapy Ortho & Sunset garden books. You can even find them in used bookstores sometimes. The info. doesn't change that much over time. I also like the British Rose Expert book that has several editions out. - Do we prune all the stalks to the same level, or cut some off completely and others leave the length we want? Again, since you just planted these this year, I wouldn't go wild with pruning, especially not completing deleting some canes. And the idea of rose canes cut all at the same level makes me shudder! Roses aren't meant to be squared off hedges. Better to go for a rounded effect, with center canes higher than canes around the sides. I meant it about not knowing much, so the more your answers resemble talking to a 3rd grader, the better. 8 ) Book now buy And/or visit www.ars.org Thanks! -- Todd Good luck, Todd. You're asking good questions. You'll probably get different answers, so just do what you think best and hope Knockouts really are as foolproof as you were told. Chances are they're survive. Roses (mostly) are very hardy plants. For our south TX conditions, water is the most important factor now. I have about 150 roses and have replaced about 1/3 of them that died due to my ignorance about one factor or another, so don't worry about being clueless. You'll learn. Gail near San Antonio TX Zone 8 |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Pruning OK now? | Gardening | |||
[IBC] Hard Pruning a Satsuki - Now or later? | Bonsai | |||
[IBC] Root Pruning, and Top Pruning | Bonsai | |||
Root Pruning, and Top Pruning | Bonsai | |||
snails - now you see them, now you don't | Freshwater Aquaria Plants |