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Pruning and balance
We bought an old house on a big block about 2 years ago, and along
with it, inherited an old and neglected English-country-style garden. Our dear departed gardener (rest her soul) must have been very keen on her roses, because we've got plenty of 'em. No idea what sorts they are. I, on the other hand, am a reluctant gardener. We're keeping most of what we've been able to salvage of the old gardens (the house was rented for several years between owner-occupiers), because it's easier than starting from scratch. We have no idea what most of our plants are (my mother-in-law often exclaims with delight when she identifies another exotic), but we're starting to get some idea what appears at what times of year...among the roses. And among the jonquils, grape hyaciths and other assorted winter bulbs. I've seen some references in here to climatic zones. I've got no idea about that. We're in cold'n'wet-ville, Australia (in late winter at the moment). It's a very English temperate winter climate - very occasional sleet, fairly regular frost, hail, and continuous drizzle that doesn't dry out for 6 months because it's so damp. Most winter days hover between 0 and 10 degrees C (35-50F). Contrast with summers, which are hot and dry - up to and occasionally over 40dgC (105F). Anyway, to the roses. I've worked out that roses are pretty much indestructible when they're established. Pruning just makes 'em angry. So, early this winter, I gave them all a good hacking, back well into old wood - most of them got very leggy in the years since our dear gardener left them to their own devices. They're all sprouting furiously now (to teach me a lesson). My main concern is a rectangular wire-frame arbor over the path to our front door. On one side is a very old, extremely healthy rose (about 3" diameter at the base), which grows through, around and over the top of the arch, sending out feral branches to snag passers-by. It also provides innumerable red blooms all spring and summer; as many as we care to cut and then some. On the other side of the arch is a younger rose, somewhat sickly by comparison. Maybe 1" diameter at the base. At best, it gives basic coverage up its own side of the arbor. Also quite prolific with pink blooms, but there's less of it to bloom. It seems to be quite a healthy plant, but no match for its neighbour. Over time, I'd like to balance the two plants better. The first year we were here, I pruned the big plant quite severely, and it flourished. It came back bigger and healthier than ever. This year I tried to leave the big plant to go dormant (do roses do that?), and pruned the smaller one quite severely to encourage it. It's now shooting like a champion. This afternoon I lost my resolve, and chopped the long sprawling branches off the big plant. I guess I'm hoping that it will now be too late in the season for it to muster the energy to shoot vigorously when spring arrives. I expect to be shown wrong. What do you, the experts, reckon? What should I be pruning, at what time of year? Can I keep the big plant pruned without encouraging it to throw out more and more fresh growth? How do I keep these crazy prickle-bushes under control? I'd prefer not to spray anything (I'm sure we have all manner of spots, funguses and bugs, but they don't seem to bother the plants), and I have no intention of spending any more than the bare minimum of time tending the garden... Thanks, fs |
Pruning and balance
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Pruning and balance
Yes, most roses do go dormant in the winter, and winter is normally
the best time to prune. I'm not sure what your frost dates are, but try to prune after the last hard frost, so you can see what all the dieback will be, but before the new shoots come out. You can take out deadwood or rubbing limbs anytime. If you're starting from a long-neglected rose garden, pruning all of them down to six inches above the ground might be a good idea. Most modern roses bloom on new wood that they grow out every year. Some old roses bloom on wood that's been out for a year, so if you take out all the old wood they might not bloom that summer. Prune your slow-growing rose too. Pruning it might wake it up to grow more. If after a year or two your large-growing rose is still way too big there, think about moving it or replacing it. Trying to force a big rose to be small is just going to frusterate both of you. -- Patrick |
Pruning and balance
dave weil wrote in message . ..
On 10 Aug 2004 01:42:37 -0700, (Fakhina Sohl) wrote: Pruning just makes 'em angry. So, early this winter, I gave them all a good hacking, back well into old wood ... They're all sprouting furiously now (to teach me a lesson). See, it's a matter of perception. Pruning makes *you* angry. Oh no, not at all. After having my clothes snagged once too many, from trying to walk past an enthusiastic rose bush, there's not many things more satisfying than attacking it with the secateurs. Ha! That will teach it! NB - read most of my ramblings with an implied ;-) emoticon. I pruned the roses back this winter to encourage them. I'm just attributing their (expected and desired) response to malice and revenge, because they're inherently evil plants. As my wife says, roses are like cats. They're beautiful, they're nice to have around, and they've got claws to shred you with if you don't treat them nicely. Or even if you do treat them nicely. I have a love-hate relationship with our cat, too :-) Pruning makes roses *happy*. Once you understand this, you'll be better off, if not your arms, legs, neck, etc. Indeed. I found that out the first time I pruned my healthy arbor-climbing rose, in an attempt to get it back in control. That's why I ask - is there any way to stunt the growth of my rose without making it happy and enthusiastic (and vengeful - evil plant ;-)), which is counterproductive to my purposes? Thanks for the answers so far. fs |
dave weil wrote in message . ..
On 10 Aug 2004 01:42:37 -0700, (Fakhina Sohl) wrote: Pruning just makes 'em angry. So, early this winter, I gave them all a good hacking, back well into old wood ... They're all sprouting furiously now (to teach me a lesson). See, it's a matter of perception. Pruning makes *you* angry. Oh no, not at all. After having my clothes snagged once too many, from trying to walk past an enthusiastic rose bush, there's not many things more satisfying than attacking it with the secateurs. Ha! That will teach it! NB - read most of my ramblings with an implied ;-) emoticon. I pruned the roses back this winter to encourage them. I'm just attributing their (expected and desired) response to malice and revenge, because they're inherently evil plants. As my wife says, roses are like cats. They're beautiful, they're nice to have around, and they've got claws to shred you with if you don't treat them nicely. Or even if you do treat them nicely. I have a love-hate relationship with our cat, too :-) Pruning makes roses *happy*. Once you understand this, you'll be better off, if not your arms, legs, neck, etc. Indeed. I found that out the first time I pruned my healthy arbor-climbing rose, in an attempt to get it back in control. That's why I ask - is there any way to stunt the growth of my rose without making it happy and enthusiastic (and vengeful - evil plant ;-)), which is counterproductive to my purposes? Thanks for the answers so far. fs |
Pruning and balance
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A few more ideas on pruning can be found in the article on Pruning Roses, on
Bexrose web site at:- http://home.btconnect.com/cadoss/bexrose Enjoy Martin Double Bexrose - Webmaster Email: Web Site: http://home.btconnect.com/cadoss/bexrose "Patrick Scheible" wrote in message ... Yes, most roses do go dormant in the winter, and winter is normally the best time to prune. I'm not sure what your frost dates are, but try to prune after the last hard frost, so you can see what all the dieback will be, but before the new shoots come out. |
A few more ideas on pruning can be found in the article on Pruning Roses, on
Bexrose web site at:- http://home.btconnect.com/cadoss/bexrose Enjoy Martin Double Bexrose - Webmaster Email: Web Site: http://home.btconnect.com/cadoss/bexrose "Patrick Scheible" wrote in message ... Yes, most roses do go dormant in the winter, and winter is normally the best time to prune. I'm not sure what your frost dates are, but try to prune after the last hard frost, so you can see what all the dieback will be, but before the new shoots come out. |
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