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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 ...
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Ready for the April Showers

The front beds still awaiting mulch.

A great day in the garden and we got so much accomplished. It was Michael's first day in the garden (the slacker!). We spread a load of mulch, more pruning and clearing up debris and getting some containers potted up. Rain is on the way and we hope to get a good soaking overnight. Things are popping up all over and I swear I noticed new growth and flower formations by the end of the day that I didn't see this morning. The rain is sure to bring a flush of activity.

Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles 'Double Take Orange Storm') and Veronica 'Georgia Blue has been blooming for several weeks now. 


Rhododendron 'Taurus', an early blooming variety, provides a much-needed shot
of vibrant color to kick-start the season. Watch my video to see the bloom progression.

Lavender 'Platinum Blonde' is certainly the most attractive lavender in the garden this time of year. I've still not mastered how to prune or care for them. Most of the others in the garden look terrible right now although they usually rebound as the temperatures rise. Pruning is a must to keep them looking good.


Serviceberry (Amelanchier 'Autumn Brilliance') - this was taken last week and since then, it has increased the blooms. I love it and have wanted one for a long time. My hope is to attract cedar wax wings. Hopefully the rain won't ruin the blooms and I can get a better photo later.

Pieris 'Mountain Fire' - I transplanted it last year from the front garden to the back. 

Red flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum), unbelievably beautiful but mostly obscured by the enormous 'Buff Beauty' rose in front of it. I had wanted to move it over the winter to the front garden but there isn't room for it anywhere. 

Another shrub in the back of the border that is obscured (in this case by hydrangea 'Alice'), is the Mountain Pepper (Drimys lanceolata). Very slow growing, it is a beautiful evergreen shrub and has improved with each year. More blooms this year than ever before!)

Creeping Mahonia (Mahonia repens) is a favorite of mine. It has never bloomed profusely, only a scattering of blooms, but a satisfying groundcover.

Hebe 'Pretty in Pink' is a lovely hebe with rich purple-tipped foliage.

Persicaria 'Red Dragon' - emerging foliage

Rhododendron 'PJM'

Camellia 'Donation'

Camellia 'Nuccio's Bella Rosa'

The street-side bed is freshly mulched. It will take several more loads to finish everything.


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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