caring for rose bushes

[Brett Hartwig]

for the gardeners out there- I have 4 rose bushes on the side of my house that have not been cared for for several years. I am sure I should prune them or trim them down to promote better and fuller growth but how should I do this. THey produce dark roses every year but I am sure they could be fuller with the proper care. any suggestions?

 

[Dale Paris]

1) when you cut, always cut below the stem with 5 leaves, --makes for long stemmed roses



2)trim out all braches that look bad, or are chris-crossed



3) in the fall, before the first frost, trim back to the main branches. can go as much as you like, done to about 6" above ground.

 

[Brandon Hovater]

I had my wife read this and she agrees with Dale. Don't forget plenty of furtalizer. the right kind with water.

 

[Brett Hartwig]

Dale- so in the fall I can cut down to 6" with no branches at all? Just 6" stubs poking out of the ground?

 

[Dale Paris]

yes you can, and if your area freezes hard, cover the stubs with mulch, uncover after the last frost.



I like to use Miracle Grow for roses. In the Spring and maybe once or twice in the summer.



No need to fertilize after Labor Day.



Depends on how you want the plants, as trees, bushes or climbers, on how far you prune back.



Trees, just prune back to the last knuckle on the the main trunk, the new growth will come after the knuckle.



Bushes, to about 6" from ground, or the last knuckle, if you want, and leave no limbs chris-crossing--- they will rub each other and cause hard to the plant.



Climbers, trim all but the main limbs back,

 

[Brett Hartwig]

Dale- check back with this thread in the next couple days...i am going to look at them tomorrow and may have some more questions. thanks

 

[Dale Paris]

Your Welcome,



take some pics if you can,

 

[Jason Housman]

Here's what we did with some overgrown rose bushes in my yard....



[Broken External Image]:





the plant was so huge it took over the stairs going up to my back porch. i'm not a gardener so this was my solution to my rose bush problem.