| Before pruning rose bushes, study the rose bush | | | | You may find that your rose has winter killed |
| and notice how it grows. There are no rigid rules | | | | canes. These canes will be brown or black rather |
| for pruning. Although experience is important a | | | | than a healthy green. The dead canes must be |
| beginner following the basic principles will do better | | | | cut back to live wood. Remember to aim all buds |
| than the gardener who cuts just to cut. | | | | properly. When winter-kill is not evident, how low |
| There are two instances when you will want to | | | | should you prune? A principle to remember is that |
| do drastic cutting. The first is when the rose bush | | | | for every inch of wood you lose about ten inches |
| is newly planted and you are determining the | | | | (measuring from the ground up) you will lose 10 |
| shape of your rose bush. Since the ideal bush will | | | | percent of your early growth. This means that if |
| be "clothed" or covered from the ground up, low | | | | you cut the canes back to eight inches, perhaps |
| pruning (which is not otherwise done) is usually | | | | to have a more shapely plant, you will have eight |
| recommend at this time. Leave three or four | | | | blooms where you may have had ten blooms. |
| strong canes, cut the others back to the main | | | | Try to never cut lower than ten inches. |
| stem, being careful not to bruise the bark at the | | | | This is not the entire story. How high can we cut? |
| base of the cane. The remaining strong canes | | | | This is the problem of adjusting all plants to a |
| should be cut back, leaving two or three good | | | | uniform height when they are growing in rose |
| buds at the base of each. Be sure the top bud | | | | beds and look well together. In this case, the |
| faces outward on each cane. Any branch that | | | | height is determined by the weakest grower in |
| grows from these buds will grow in the direction it | | | | the rose bed. |
| is pointing. By "aiming" the buds outward, you will | | | | If you are growing individual rose buses, |
| prevent weak branches tangling in the center. | | | | remember that the more foliage the plant has the |
| There is no point in wasting that space in the | | | | more food it can produce and the more vigorous |
| center. You can aim one well-placed bud to fill | | | | it will be. For this reason, try to let the bush grow |
| later. If you live in a damp cool region where | | | | as tall as possible for its location. Pruning rose |
| mildew is a problem, the center can be left open | | | | bushes need not be hard once you obtain all the |
| so that the sunlight can reach the base. This will | | | | information you need. Information in regards to |
| help the plant to dry quickly in the mornings. | | | | your area can be obtained at your local garden |
| The second time when severe pruning rose | | | | center. |
| bushes is when they are uncovered in the spring. | | | | |