Rose pruning

Winter pruning Roses.

Been in the rose garden ‘winter pruning’ the roses. Some would say “hacking” rather than pruning.

We hard prune the shrubs to about 6-8 inches from the ground, to an outward facing bud. This drastic style of pruning is for, mainly, two reasons.

The first is to help prevent wind rock. The tall leggy growth will catch the wind and make the plant unstable at the base weakening it.

The second reason is to enforce a winter break onto the plants. They are still in flower and still producing buds. This all takes energy. With our mild climate the winter is just not old enough to give the plants a rest.

It does go against the grain to cut a plant, in almost full flower, to the ground but it is ultimately for the greater good of the plant.