Winter Rose Care & Pruning
Although major rose pruning is not done until late February into early March, there are a few things I do to get roses settled in for the winter. First, I wait until the first frost has occurred before I do anything. That happened on December 1 this year, a little later than normal. If you do any pruning prior to that, new growth will be encouraged, and it will just be nipped later. I will then do minimal pruning, about 1/3 of the plant or to about waist-high. It does not matter how you make the cuts. More precise pruning will be done in late winter. Giving roses a slight pruning at this time will decrease the damage from strong winter winds. Roses are not deeply rooted, and any long canes can spell trouble. Pick off any remaining leaves, if possible. I know that can be a big job if there are still many leaves left on the plant but you don't want leaves, especially diseased leaves, left to fall and harbor spores for next season. Clean the area around the base of the rose. Rake out ...
Nice photos. I like your grasses and the coleus especially. I saw masses of switchgrass at the Chicago Botanic Garden. It made me want to try some. Are they invasive at all?
ReplyDeleteWhat is Shell Ginger? Sally Holmes is one of my favorite roses.
ReplyDeletePam, I just planted the switchgrass a few weeks ago. I hope it is not invasive!
ReplyDeleteChuck, the botanical name is 'Alpinia zerumbet'. It is not hardy here - I dig it up and store it in the basement over the winter. It is worth growing for the foliage alone. It blooms in warmer climates and has small flowers that resemble seashells, thus the name.
You have so many beautiful flowers, Phillip - but that 'Buff Beauty' is especially fine.
ReplyDeleteIt's amusing to see how many garden bloggers have Black & Blue salvia in their posts!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
I like to torment myself by looking at southern gardens to see what won't grow well in my own zone 5 garden. I love that Shell Ginger, and knowing you have to take it inside to overwinter, makes me think I could do the same up here in Indiana.
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing us some lovely blooms for GBBD.
Carol at May Dreams Gardens
Annie in Austin led me over here by telling me that you had posted a particularly nice picture of the 'Buff Beauty' that I covet andn plan to plant next spring... but I'll definitely be back for more of your lovely photos and posts.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! My sasanqua Camellia is blooming too. I think it's quite amazing that plants a thousand? miles apart could be blooming at the same time.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the Camellia I thought of Ki. Your plants look really, really good and I am with the crowd thinking that 'Buff Beauty' is a great looking rose.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to add that Switch grass ain this part of the woods is a slowly spreading clump. It has not been invasive at all. I haven't seen that cultivar before and it looks nice.
ReplyDeleteIt's so rare that I ever see Angel's Trumpet -- those are beautiful flowers. I like the salvias you have there, too. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures Phillip!! The roses are very nice, I too think that buff beauty is great. Wonder if it will grow here in zone 5? Might have to research that. Shell ginger looks like it would be worth digging up and storing over winter. Thanks for sharing!! Cliff
ReplyDeleteNice pictures! You sure have a lot of beautiful things blooming! As a gardener, I'd kinda like to live in a warmer climate with a longer grow season, but as a person who loves the cold-no way!
ReplyDelete