I have a Pat Austin rose about 10 years old. I have read that they should not be heavily pruned. There are 3 or so nice strong new shoots, but the main part of the plant in on old wood which only produces thin shoots at the top. If I cut these back, will the old wood produce new shoots

Thanks

Hi and welcome to NGA!

The old canes will produce new cane if you prune it. You want to make a 45° cut just above a leaf node. A leaf node is the part where a leaf came off and new growth occurs at the juncture. Find a leaf node that is facing away from the center of the plant to make your cuts.

If you post a picture, I'll be happy to show you where to make your cuts. I'll need to see the whole plant.

Thanks for your reply and kind offer. I am posting two photos - one of the whole plant (with a bit of a different rose encroaching on the left) and a close view of the old wood. Hope it worked!

Alison
Vancouver

Pictures were pretty bad, so I'm trying again!

Hi Alison,

Hmm .. so shoots coming out at the base looks like it's coming from the graft which is a whole different bush. Roses are grafted on to really strong root stock that is resistant to disease and such and usually doesn't produce blooms or if they do they are totally different from what you bought.

When you go to cut the canes, remember use a 45° degree angle and try to cut just above leaf nodes that face away from the center if you can identify them. After cutting, I'd spray the cuts with a good fungicide. If the canes are still viable you should see new growth in a week or so if you nights are in the 60's and above.

Thanks Anne,

I hadn't thought about the shoots being the root stock. I had a good look and two quite likely are, but two are at the same level or higher than a dead branch I took out, so may well be ok.

Thanks for the great markings on my photo too. I think I'll reovate in stages. But I had to laugh at the idea of nights in the 60s. This is the Pacific NW and an unusually cool spring. I don't think we've had a day in the 60s yet and nights are in the 40s with the occasional frost!. Still everything's growing like crazy and the cherry blossoms everywhere are beautiful.

Thanks again