| ng your roses is one of the most needed and the | | | | You want to get rid of the winter protection that |
| most annoyingly difficult tasks that goes with | | | | you set up like cones, burlap, and mounded soil. |
| proper rose care. It takes a steady hand the | | | | You want to get rid of the dead wood first. (That |
| proper procedure to ensure the best possible | | | | would be the black wood that is black inside as |
| roses that you can get. | | | | well as out). |
| Pruning your roses is basically the act of getting | | | | Next, you wan to get rid of the thinner wood, |
| rid of dead and damaged pieces, and teaching the | | | | which is the stems that are thinner than a pencil. |
| new growth to grow in the correct outward | | | | Cut all of the branches that cross or overlap one |
| facing direction. That just means that you are | | | | another because these are often diseased or will |
| training them to grow facing the outside of the | | | | become so. |
| shrub or bush. This gives your roses the correct | | | | Keep the remaining five healthy branches. These |
| amount of circulating air to thrive in. | | | | are often dark green. You will want to make your |
| Here is a list of the proper techniques to guide | | | | roses fluted or vases shaped, with an open |
| through the pruning process. | | | | center, and keep them from touching or |
| Soak your pruning shears in equal parts of water | | | | overlapping each other. |
| and bleach. This will help to protect your roses | | | | Cut your healthy canes to be about one to four |
| from diseases and insects. Pruning in the early | | | | feet long, or whatever size that you prefer. |
| spring, just after the snow melts is best. | | | | Cut you roses properly so that they stay healthy. |
| However you want to do it before any new | | | | Cut so that the bud is facing outside of the bush |
| growth appears. The best time would be when | | | | and at a 45 degree angle that slopes inward so |
| the buds are swelled, or red. | | | | that you can keep promoting the outward |
| Hand shears are the best tool for pruning the | | | | growth. |
| smaller branches. (about 4 ½ inches thick) | | | | You should use bypass pruners that work like |
| Loppers are best for the branches that are | | | | scissors and not the anvil types because the |
| thicker or the thickness of a pencil. This will make | | | | anvils crush the stems and make the roses more |
| it easier. You should use a heavy pair of rose | | | | available to diseases. |
| gloves to avoid the thorns. | | | | |