January 16, 2017

Pruning and Tying the Roses in My Garden

During a break in the cold, winter weather, we decided it was a good time to do some work in the flower garden.

My gardener, Wilmer, started the task of pruning and tying the climbing roses, several of which are located on tall tower trellises - these climbers are thriving in this space. My head gardener, Ryan, helped to prune the rose bushes on the perimeter of the garden.

Pruning is about more than just looks; proper pruning improves the health of the plants, prevents disease, and encourages better flowering. There are different pruning strategies for different times of the year, but overall the goals are the same - to control shape, to keep the bushes fresh and open, and to allow for better air circulation through the center of the plants. I've grown roses for more than 25-years. Many of my rose varieties are prized for their petal formations and fragrances, so maintenance is very important to keeping them healthy and productive. Here are some photos of our rose pruning process - enjoy.