Motherlode Rose Society Blog

By Elsina M. Dean, Master Rosarian

Due to the overwhelming interest and the
desire to learn at the Mother Lode Rose
Society Pruning Clinic on January 23 at
the Amador Senior Center, the Consulting
Rosarians are offering another Hands on
Pruning seminar at the Amador Senior
Center 229 New York Ranch Road on
February 27th from 10 A.M. to 12 Noon.
As an added incentive, Muriel Humenick,
Master Rosarian will demonstrate how to
care for your tools and how to sharpen
them. This seminar is scheduled to be
held outdoors in the rose garden at the
Senior Center, weather permitting.

The following is a brief review of the ba-
sics of pruning: and why you prune. Prun-
ing controls the size and shape of your
bush. It also stimulates the new and
healthy growth for maximum blooms.

Pruning the roses depends on the vari-
ety. If you want long stems for exhibition
you prune for longer canes. For all prun-
ing you take out the crossing canes and
old wood. Clearing out the center makes
better air circulation and thus prevents a
chance for disease. Prune away all canes
that are smaller than a pencil. These
small canes will not be strong enough to
hold a rose.

How many canes should you leave? If
possible you should leave 3 to 5 new
greener canes.

When making the cut, you should cut just
above the bud eye facing toward to the
outside at approximately a 45 degree an-
gle. If you cut flat it may cause a pooling
of water and may cause a foci for dis-
ease.

Always practice good housekeeping rules by cleaning all dead leaves and debris from
aound the base of your plant and throw in the garbage. DO NOT deposit in your compost pile!

To insure a good demonstration please sharpen your tools ahead of time if possible. Bring a
good pair of gauntlet gloves (preferably goat skin), a pair of loppers, a good saw, a pair of by
pass shears, a can of Lysol spray, band aids and some antiseptic. Always remember to keep
your Tetanus shot current. Why Lysol? The use of Lysol spray is to spray your pruners after
pruning a possible diseased cane such as Crown Gall which is highly infectious.

I am sure after your pruning is done your mind wanders to the new beautiful roses in the nurser-
ies and where to put them. Maybe it is time to .shovel prune. those roses who didn’t perform as
well as you wanted them to last year. Well then, it is time to start .bearing gifts. to someone who
just wants a garden rose just for color. You will then have space for your new variety.

The new varieties are in the nurseries! Use caution before purchasing. Research the rose, pay-
ing special attention to disease resistance, how large does it grow, what zone does it do well in,
how much sun do you have available! Always buy Grade # 1 roses.