Skip to main content

Featured

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 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Winter Pruning Begins

 

I usually wait until the end of February to cut back the ornamental grasses and prune the roses but the mild temperatures that we'd had so far this year prompted me to get a head start. Of course, after I begin, we get a threat of real winter weather headed this way later in the week. 

I started cutting back some of the ornamental grasses but only finished some of the smaller ones. The largest that I cut back was Miscanthus 'Fire Dragon'. I use a bungee cord to tie around the grass and then use my hedge trimmers to cut them off. It makes it tidier to clean up.





Still to go are some of the larger grasses but I will wait a few weeks before tackling those. The biggest grass in the garden is Miscanthus 'Gold Bar'. I think it still looks spectacular.

Miscanthus 'Gold Bar'

Also Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' is a favorite. There are several of these outside the fence near the street.

Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'

Miscanthus 'Little Miss' was a standout in autumn -

Miscanthus 'Little Miss'

 

Pennisetum 'Red Head' was nice last year as was 'Red Buttons' (in the top photo).

Pennisetum 'Red Head'

Last but not least is Calamagrostis 'Overdam' which is such a useful plant for narrow spaces.

Calamagrostis 'Overdam'

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Email Post

Comments

  1. Kris PetersonFebruary 8, 2021 at 7:03 PM

    You have a lot of great ornamental grasses, Phillip. I'm going to try your bungee cord approached to cutting back my Pennisetums this year, although I'll probably leave them alone through the end of the month - not that winter cold is a big factor here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverFebruary 9, 2021 at 9:56 AM

      I usually wait too. I actually only cut a few of them back this week.

      Delete
  2. chavlinessFebruary 9, 2021 at 8:09 AM

    I must remember the bungee cord for next year. Since winter was mild, I too felt being pulled into the garden to do minor trimming and cleaning... and wouldn't you know it, a cold front is upon us; better now than in mid March.
    I planted Miscanthus 'Gold Bar' one year, I loved the blooms that reminded me of papyrus, but it expanded so much I took it out. I now have my eyes on Calamagrostis 'Overdam', appreciating its narrow habit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverFebruary 9, 2021 at 9:55 AM

      I always think of that commercial that I saw as a child with the woman saying "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature".

      Delete
  3. chavlinessFebruary 9, 2021 at 8:09 AM

    I must remember the bungee cord for next year. Since winter was mild, I too felt being pulled into the garden to do minor trimming and cleaning... and wouldn't you know it, a cold front is upon us; better now than in mid March.
    I planted Miscanthus 'Gold Bar' one year, I loved the blooms that reminded me of papyrus, but it expanded so much I took it out. I now have my eyes on Calamagrostis 'Overdam', appreciating its narrow habit.

    ReplyDelete
  4. chavlinessFebruary 9, 2021 at 8:13 AM

    or is it calamagrostis-karl-forester?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverFebruary 9, 2021 at 9:54 AM

      'Overdam' is very similar to 'Karl Forester' but has some variegation to the foliage.

      Delete
  5. Lisa at GreenbowFebruary 9, 2021 at 9:51 AM

    Your grasses are quite the winter wonders. It is good that you don't prune them all at once. They still seem to be looking good.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hoover BooFebruary 9, 2021 at 4:32 PM

    The bungee cord was a great idea. You have a choice collection of grasses.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Gardener on Sherlock StreetFebruary 9, 2021 at 5:17 PM

    Much still looks good. I start cutting back plants in the winter when they start breaking and if I have decent weather. This year, lots of warm days let me get everything trimmed after some crazy wind beat up what was left.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts