| When shouldI prune my roses? Do I need to fertlize them? |
| Pruning roses is easy and should be done in late winter or early spring, just as leaf buds begin to swell on the canes. Here are the basics: In the spring, remove the dead and damaged canes as far back as necessary. Then, remove any suckers that arise from below the graft union, if there is one (the swelling near the base of the plant). Next, select the healthiest canes (thicker and bright green) and cut off the rest. If your roses are just a couple of years old, save about 3-5 canes. Save more on older plants. Lastly, cut the flowering canes back by one-third to one-half. Make your cuts about 1/4" above an outward-facing bud. Another tip: When it's time for a bouquet, cut the stems just below the uppermost leaf with 5 leaflets. This will encourage better flowering. Roses should be fed every 5-6 weeks with a specially formulated Rose Food. Follow label directions. |
