Roses
The rose is one of the most celebrated flowers in man’s history. According to fossil evidence, the rose has been blooming for 35 million years.
The Romans cultivated roses, as well as the Chinese, and both cultures used roses early on for medicinal purposes, confetti, perfume, and simply for aesthetical reasons. During the seventeenth century, roses were in particularly high demand; they even were used as a form of payment. This beautiful bloom has quite a history.
Roses can be found throughout the world, today, and with hundreds of varieties, you can grow many different types of roses in your backyard. Known by many as the Rosa, its Latin name, roses are not as difficult to care for as many mistakenly believe.
As mid to late February rolls onto our calendar, it signifies that it is the ideal time to prune roses. In fact, the biggest key to successfully growing and maintaining a rose bush is proper pruning.
When done properly, pruning helps to ensure that your woody perennial stays healthy and grows with vigor, producing strong stems and beautiful flower buds. Disease is also prevented by effective pruning, as damaged and dead canes, or stems, are removed.
As roses are known not only for their colorful blooms and enticing scents, but also for their cut inducing thorns, a good pair of gloves is essential. Along with gloves, you might wish to consider covering your entire arms, as well, when pruning. The other item needed when pruning roses, or any small woody plant for that matter, is a pair of hand sheers. If the canes of the rose bush are especially thick, a pair of loppers may be necessary, also.
After removing all of the dead canes, the thin ones, thinner than a pencil, should be removed, as well as those canes that rub against each other. All suckers, or cones coming up from the root base, or around the main stem, should also be removed, as they suck important and needed nutrients from the bush, itself.
When all of these have been removed, it is time to prune the bush, itself, back. Leaving only between three to five healthy canes, remove all the rest, cutting them down to the ground. Those that remain should be about one to two feet in height. When pruning a healthy cane, cut at a 45 degree angle, about one fourth above an outward bud.
Don’t be afraid to prune, and don’t be afraid to prune vigorously, as well. Roses are hardy, and can take a severe cut. Indeed, they will grow back. A good pruning not only is healthy for a rose bush, enabling it to grow profusely, it also helps to shape the bush in an eye pleasing manner.
Now, grab some gloves, make sure you have a sharp and clean set of pruning sheers in hand, and cut away. Enjoy.