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Rose Pruning 101 - Part 2

Saturday, 26th September 2009

How to Cut
Using sharp, strong secateurs cut no more than 5mm above a growth bud, any closer and the bud could be damaged, while cutting too high could cause the stem to die back. Should you find that the secateurs tend to crush one side of the stem when cutting, make a note of which side gets crushed and make a habit of holding them so that the crushed side occurs on the part of the stem to be discarded. Ensure that the cut is angled back and away from the bud to allow any moisture to drain away. To keep the bush uncrowded, the bud should face outwards to encourage growth to spread out from the center.

Hints and Tips
What to do if more than one growth bud develops at the same point after pruning - carefully pinch out the weaker of the two either with your thumb nail or with the point of a sharp knife
How best to remove a complete stem - using secateurs, cut as closely as possible to the parent stem before using a sharp knife to trim the stump slush with the stem, taking care not to cut into the stem itself.
How to remove moderately thick stems - while cutting with your secateurs carefully bend the stem away from the blade. For thick, hard stems however it is best to use long-handled lopping shears.
How best to remove hard, old wood - start with a narrow-bladed pruning saw before using a sharp knife to trim the edges and pare the cuts clean.

Maintenance of your tools

When you have finished your pruning, clean your tools with a cloth to remove any moisture and grit.
To prevent them from rusting, lightly smear them with oil.
Sharpen your blades with a small silicon carbide sharpening stone.

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