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Friday 3rd July, 2015

Plan to prune on a fine day.

Hi

Its time to have that Chat 

Its July and we have to have that chat....  on a subject that always seems to  be more complicated than what it actually should be..... Pruning. 

I always feel that it has become such a big deal when it reality it shouldn't be.  Only the cruelest cut will kill a plant and that is at ground level and even then most plants manage to come away. Now pruning is a big subject and can cover a whole raft of different scenarios but this piece is really about roses, but hey the principals really apply to all pruning situations.

  

The whole purpose  of pruning, in general terms is to promote growth that will give us all heaps of flowers, and or fruit and enhance the natural form of the plant involved.

            

 

The overall principles are also very simple. 

Firstly remove any broken, diseased wood (branches or stems), next remove the wood that has flowered  and finally prune to a nice open shape  leaving the nicest thickest and youngest stems. If there is plenty of branches then removal of cross overs will also help keep a good open shape.

 

Golden Rule 

Don't prune in the wet or rain as moisture can cause the spread of fungal infections

Lets start with an established rosebush  that still only has its last flower flush left. Now if you are one that removes most of the whole stem after each flush then you will only have the last flush to prune. Some just tend to dead head and you may have three flower flushes to remove to bring the rose back to its original frame work.

I usually cut the flower stem back to the leaf or bud that is approx 3 to 4 buds ( a piece about 10 to 12 cm) up from where it joins the framework.

               

The framework is the thicker branches that create the bush from which the flowers stems are grown from. It usually takes up to three years for a new rose bush to create its framework. The canes that carry the flowers usually will flower well for many years  say 5 to 7 years but as they age they become less virile to flower (well so to speak) and new young fresh canes may be present to take their place and you could cut these longer to keep in balance with the overall bush. Removal of the flowered wood to short pieces with approx 4 or so buds should result in 4 flowering stems on each framework stem.

Finally prune to an open shape which may mean the removal of stems that cross through your rose bush. I always say to all, that  imagine that you are looking at your shower rose nozzle in the morn. Every water stream has its own path and that is kinda how you want to look down on your rose bush.

Remember if you don't have much  wood or stems you can't take it all out as what is the poor bush going to use to grow with next season and lastly the thickest wood will flower way better than the thin canes.

You gotta have the best tools to do the best job, isn't that the way!!!

ARS  and no thats not short for someones butt but rather an awesome brand of secateurs, loppers and pruning saws that are just... well  ... Always Really Sharp and perfect for the tasks ahead, namely the pruning season. We use them in the nursery and my guess is that one of the team, Cherie  has had a pair that lasted her for three years or more before I gave her a new set.

For this seasons pruning  you will need secateurs, rose pruning saw,  wire brush, gloves

Now the wire brush is handy for brushing the base of older roses removing some of the old bark and stimulating new shoots to appears. Those little pruning saws are ideal for cutting out that old wood that is too  large for loppers or secateurs.  I always like to leave the crown nice and tidy and without knobbly bits that just seem to decay and attract borer.

            

Do you want the perfect Bloom, help with Pruning or  Rose Selections?

Then come on out to the nursery and spend some time those that are in the know.  Join us at the Garden centre between  Sat 18th July  and Sun 19th July between  10 and  2 pm. I'll even try to organize some coffee and muffins for a cuppa around 11 am each day 

Roses for the garden or Roses to show, whatever is your desire there are those that know and have advice to share. 

Trevor, Paul and others from the local Rose society are mad keen to share their love of the rose. They have so kindly offered to come to the nursery and be on hand for those that want to know that bit more. Rose pruning.... what ever you want to know on this subject.  Rose selection.... what roses are tough and hardy, those that would be excellent garden selections or if your really  keen to grow the perfect bloom to show then they are the experts. Come on out and get it from the experts and check out whether they really use umbrellas over their roses to ensure that perfect bloom.

If you are keen to attend, then email me by reply an indication so that we have some idea of numbers to lloyd@wairere.co.nz

Goodness Saturday evening is looming and I haven't sent this out yet.. must get it on its way or you will think that its another week that I have missed.  Not the best weekend to start pruning though, due to the showers that are hanging around.  It means that when we do get a fine weekend or you are off during the week then get in and get those pruning jobs done.  Spray with copper and oil after pruning.

Enjoy what left of the weekend, if its work again on Monday

Cheers 

Lloyd, Harry and the Wairere Team

Make it a Wairere weekend where even GNOMES know that gardening\'s not a drag 

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2015 Newsletters...

We're back (8th January, 2015)

Settling In (29th January, 2015)

Summer colour (30th January, 2015)

Fabulous Feb (6th February, 2015)

Roses on sale (16th February, 2015)

stevia (20th February, 2015)

Cheeky Climbers (6th March, 2015)

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Easter is nearly here (25th March, 2015)

Mourning the end of summer? (2nd April, 2015)

SALE NOW ON!!! (8th April, 2015)

Autumn Harvest (17th April, 2015)

What to do with all those leaves. (22nd April, 2015)

Autumn Flowers (1st May, 2015)

Sunday Mothers Day (8th May, 2015)

Colours of Autumn (15th May, 2015)

Always a project (22nd May, 2015)

Rose potting (23rd May, 2015)

Clip n Snip (4th June, 2015)

Roses Galore (14th June, 2015)

Rose Climbers (19th June, 2015)

..... Its Time to prune

Like a candy shop (11th July, 2015)

The pruning session (16th July, 2015)

Red and white stems (24th July, 2015)

Rose pruning Thur and Fri (24th July, 2015)

Winter Colour (31st July, 2015)

Time to feed (9th August, 2015)

Magnolias (20th August, 2015)

Gardeners work is never done (25th August, 2015)

Till the cows come home, or get shoooood away! (28th August, 2015)

Topiary Art (11th September, 2015)

Tosca in spring (19th September, 2015)

An extra hour (25th September, 2015)

The first Friday in October (2nd October, 2015)

Pretties Galore (9th October, 2015)

Frantic Fridays (16th October, 2015)

geraniums are in (20th October, 2015)

November events (31st October, 2015)

Movember (9th November, 2015)

Christmas is coming (20th November, 2015)

Harry was blowing in the wind (26th November, 2015)

December (3rd December, 2015)

Chilli out for Christmas (18th December, 2015)

HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: