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Rose Pruning Again

Late February to early March is the time for the major pruning of roses. Back in December, I did a preliminary pruning , now is the time for the last major pruning before the spring season begins.  First, a comment on hybrid tea roses. This is what most people have in their gardens. I only have a few hybrid tea roses. These are the roses that need the most drastic pruning. Basically, you cut all the canes down to about 1 foot, making the cuts right above an outward-facing bud. The result will be something like this -  Most of my roses fall into the shrub and climbing categories. These roses are pruned differently and not as severe as the hybrid teas. For shrub roses (and many of the David Austin English roses fall into this category), I first take out the older canes completely to the ground. The older canes are easy to spot - they will be thicker and darker in color. After thinning out the older canes, I remove any canes that are damaged, crossing one another and canes that ...

Icy Jewels



We missed the snow this week - earlier forecasters were saying that we could get as much as 2-5 inches. However, as it often happens, the snow line went much farther north so we missed out. We are getting cold rain and sleet and everything is wet. It is going to get very cold tonight and black ice will be a problem in the morning. There is also concern about the ice on trees. I would much have preferred the snow!


I did get a change to get a few shots of the beautiful ice in the garden today.







Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. I hope you didn't have to get out in it. As pretty as it is it is dangerous. Our area got the snow. It is lovely but cold.

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  2. Pines, pines are the worst in an ice storm. Just looking at your photos I can hear a pine limb cracking and crashing. I'm glad I agreed to move farther south. Stay safe, and warm.

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  3. So beautiful but so dangerous! Everything in Limestone Co covered in ice today. Hurry spring!

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  4. Wow that pictures are superb! You are right though, snow would have been better for plants than ice.

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  5. It all looks wonderful ... but very cold! We had a very Springlike day here in the uk, sunny and still and about 9 degrees. makes me feel that the end is in sight!!

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  6. I remember the ice storms from when I lived in Alabama and Tennessee. Beautiful but so destructive to the trees.

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  7. Ice covered plants are always so lovely, but I am glad it is your garden and not mine.

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  8. Gorgeous photos, Phillip! I hope you didn't lose any plants to that ice. We were supposed to get that same kind of weather last night and today but it's either delayed or not going to happen. I'm relieved actually. It'll give me some time to get out there and refill the bird feeders!

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