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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 ...
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Patience sometimes required


I thought this dwarf crape myrtle would never bloom! It was planted three years ago and the foliage has been absolutely beautiful but nary a bloom in sight. A friend told me that I should talk to my plants. "You don't believe it but it works," he said. One day I was weeding around it and I happened to remember what he said so I whispered to it "If you don't bloom this year, you are outta here". Good heavens, it worked!

I took a full shot of it but my garden is so weedy that I'm embarrassed to show it. This is the first dwarf variety I've grown and I really like them (that is, now that it intends to bloom). It is only about 18 inches tall and about 24 inches wide. The variety is "Pocomoke".
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  1. CarolAugust 21, 2009 at 12:22 AM

    Lovely! Philip...Chuckle, Chuckle to your giving it final notice. I am sure it had planned all along to please you.

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  2. CarolAugust 21, 2009 at 12:23 AM

    OOPS! It it too early to up... sorry about the misspell of your name!

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  3. LesAugust 21, 2009 at 3:33 AM

    I have found that when plants are reluctant to bloom, you can also insert a shovel near its root ball or lean an axe against its trunk. Leave them there for a time allowing the plant to ponder its fate.

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  4. C. C.August 21, 2009 at 4:11 AM

    Love the shovel/axe suggestion. :)

    I've been waiting for more than 10 years for a climbing hydrangea to bloom. At this point it might as well be English ivy, and it will get the same fate in the next year or two if it doesn't produce some flowers.

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  5. Lisa at GreenbowAugust 21, 2009 at 4:51 AM

    I think it was worth waiting for. It has a pretty bloom. You must thank it now for blooming. It will appreciate some praise for all its hard work.

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  6. Dave@The Home GardenAugust 21, 2009 at 4:52 AM

    I wonder if I should say the same to our crape myrtles! It would be an empty threat since I like them as a privacy screen even without the flowers.

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  7. Southern AspirationsAugust 21, 2009 at 4:55 AM

    I should try this with hydrangeas planted last year... looks great! I'm considering planting the dwarf variety to replace/enhance some of my encore azaleas...

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  8. RandyAugust 21, 2009 at 5:10 AM

    Phillip,
    I really like those dwarfs too, yours is really pretty. Unfortunately, our room is becoming very limited. So I don't know where we would put them. :-(--Randy
    PS- Was it a Jamie that told you to talk to them? LOL

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  9. Roses and LilacsAugust 21, 2009 at 5:29 AM

    It's a lovely plant, Philip. I have nothing in that color to choose from up here.

    I'm imagining you out in the garden having long conversations with the blooming plants;)
    Marnie

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  10. Phillip OliverAugust 21, 2009 at 5:34 AM

    That's okay Carol!

    Les, I love that idea. That is very funny.

    C.C., I have tried to grow cl. hydrangea at least three times and I've never had luck with it. It always dies on me.

    Lisa, I should probably tell it thank you.

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  11. Phillip OliverAugust 21, 2009 at 5:36 AM

    Dave, usually lack of flowers doesn't bother me unless they are in a place where it is needed.

    S.A., that is a good idea because you would have spots of color when the azaleas are not blooming.

    Randy, it was indeed Jamie!

    Marnie, trust me, I don't have long conversations with the plants.

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  12. sweetbayAugust 21, 2009 at 7:38 AM

    Hmmm, so threats work... LOL I'll have to try that.

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  13. sweetbayAugust 21, 2009 at 7:39 AM

    PS I also like Les' idea.

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  14. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)August 21, 2009 at 8:38 AM

    Fait accompli

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  15. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)August 21, 2009 at 8:50 AM

    I'm laughing at Les' idea.

    Failing that you could write a stinking letter

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  16. How It GrowsAugust 21, 2009 at 10:12 AM

    Did you say what variety it is?

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  17. AndrewAugust 21, 2009 at 3:45 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  18. Catherine@AGardenerinProgressAugust 21, 2009 at 4:20 PM

    Patience paid off for sure! I've threatened plants before and it does seem to help sometimes :)

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  19. AndrewAugust 21, 2009 at 5:51 PM

    I love those Crape Myrtles. They should be hardy here but I've never seen one for sale...

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  20. GailAugust 21, 2009 at 5:57 PM

    Phillip, It's a lovely crape myrtle and it's wonderful that they are now small garden sized! ...and that they are smart enough to listen! gail

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  21. Phillip OliverAugust 21, 2009 at 7:07 PM

    I had to look up the variety name. It is "Pocomoke".

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  22. elizabethAugust 21, 2009 at 7:42 PM

    I grow Pocomokes and mine just started blooming. They're blooming much later this year than last year for some reason..

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  23. Monica the Garden FaerieAugust 25, 2009 at 9:16 AM

    In Michigan, crepe myrtle is one of those things you hear about but never see (one zone too cold). I was excited to see several at MOBOT, including one the very color of yours. I loved it!

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  24. donnaAugust 26, 2009 at 7:35 AM

    i am glad to know you have at least a few weeds in your 3/4 acre garden, esp. since my 225 sq. ft. gets the better of me. and that's with about 60 sq. ft. covered in stepping stones.

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