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 ...
Absolutely gorgeous photos. And you've given me so much to look forward to in my own garden: my peonies are in bud right now, and I cannot wait until they bloom. I'm thinking I need a few more roses in my garden--that 'Caldwell Pink' rose is a real sweetie.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that I stumbled upon your blog. You have great photos and seem to have a real passion for old roses. I like the Kousa better than C. florida, mainly because it is more tolerant of adversity and more vigorous. It seems that many of my new customers who no jack squat about gardening, always want to start with roses and dogwoods. I usually try to steer them towards Kousas, away from C. florida and towards shrub roses and away from hybrid teas - get them going on something easy and then try the harder stuff.
ReplyDeleteWell Phillip,
ReplyDeleteAs usual you WOW me with your collection. I hope you have been enjoying the time off. Jamie and I have put our garden building on a hold for a little while, as we have given it priority over things we shouldn't have. Ooops!
Does that Raspberry Sundae smell as good as it looks?
ReplyDeleteThede luscious photos of your lavish and extraordinary garden are killing me, Phillip - but what a way to go!
It's May!!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Once again, you have wowed me with the photos of your garden. I am so jealous of that peony. It is the one plant I wish I could grow here, but, alas, it is too hot this far south. I agree that the Kousa dogwood is a very elegant tree. Your hard work is evident in these gorgeous pictures.
ReplyDeleteJan
Always Growing
Hi, a fellow Alabamian here, drooling and coveting your wonderful garden. What a joy it must be to walk outside into that! I was tickled to see your Petite Pink Scotch because I have one I bought in Tyler, Texas 4 years ago and thought I had something nobody else would have heard of. Isn't it precious? What do you do to keep your roses healthy?
ReplyDeleteHi Phillip, you have the most lush garden with mature specimens of roses and other first class shrubs. I love visiting here. What a treat to see the indigofera, our Cleveland HD had it and I almost bought it, but didn't know anything about it. Dry shade is the name of the game here, so now I will see if they still have it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteFrances at Faire Garden
I grow St. Joseph's lily, too but here in Austin it blooms in late March, close to St. Joseph's Day.
ReplyDeleteI'm really taken with the peony. It is so beautiful. And the oakleaf hydrangea. I don't suppose there's any way to grow those in central Texas. Is it the heat or the soil, I wonder.
Phillip, I love the Iris, too and send me the Indigobush! Better yet, move your whole garden up here.... your garden is fantastically lovely.
ReplyDeletegail
That is quite a 'lull'! I have those 'thingys' all over everything from the oak trees! Can I pick a favorite? No, but I did put in two rose bushes this spring and it is your fault so thanks! I needed fragrance after seeing all your rose photos! I like the Kousa dogwood as it is more elegant as you say and no dogwood anthracnose problems which is killing all the 'floridas' around here.
ReplyDeletePhillip,
ReplyDeleteI was wondering..how old and how large is your virginia sweetspire? I have two, but they are only a year old so not very big..I'd like to put some in other locations, but am not entirely sure about how large they get. I never rely on the growth info from the nursery..everything seems to get bigger in my garden...so your advice would be helpful.
What a beautiful site. Your pictures are fabulous. That Louisiana iris is interesting. I think what that is is what was once considered a species, called Iris vinicolor. However, like a lot of Louisiana irises that were once give species names, this one appears to be a natural hybrid between Iris fulve, a red, and the tall coastal blue, Iris giganticaerulea.
ReplyDeletePatrick
www.zydecoirises.com
Your Wolf Eyes is SO big! How long has it been growing there? Mine seems to barely grow. I too have that indogo amblantha. I love it! Very reliable and dainty. Non-stop bloomer. I had no idea what it was when I picked it up at Home Depot either.
ReplyDeleteYou are the only person I know on the web who has pictures of Super Dorothy. I bought one last year because Heirloom Roses had them on sale. Hope mine looks as good as yours. Does yours get any rebloom?
ReplyDelete