Do I just snip off the dead blooms through the summer?

You can do that, or you can look for stems with 5 leaves, and cut just above that. Most new growth seems to happen just above 5 leaves. Did I explain that well at all? :confused:

5 leaves all attatched to the same branch?(is that what you call it on a flower??LOL)
Rebecca, if I explain a perennial to you, would you be able to identify it?

Yes! That's exactly what I was trying to say!

And I could give it a shot, but I know there are MUCH more knowledgeable folks on the board. :heart:

snipping off the dead blossoms is called *dead heading*. You should do that all summer to encourage new blossoms and keep the plant from wasting its energy on dead blossoms.

As for actual pruning, you should do that in the Winter. The general rule of thumb is to cut about 1/2 of the bush away. Start with intersecting branches. The branches that are perpendicular to the ground should come off first as they intersect vertical growth.

We just moved intp a house that has a bunch of roses-and I haven't a clue.

here is a website with the anatomy of a rose bush...and gives you tips as to what to cut or not.
http://www.rosemania.com/Anatomy_of_Bare_Root_Bush.htm

If you google pruning roses-there are a Tbunch of sites to 'weed'through-lol! I just don't have the time right now. Too much to do inside the house :rolleyes:

Hmm...maybe an interim gardener?!

Here is a good page that talks about pruning and dead heading-which you are supposed to do every week(dead heading that is)

Omigosh-I am so not a rose girl. I like LOW mainteneance plants-like lavender and rosemary. Pest resistant, overwinters with no help, don't need to trim-and if you trim it back-it bounces back beautifully!
http://www.regannursery.com/getting_started/pl07_pruning_roses.htm

Linda

:D

Originally posted by mowglimonster
We just moved intp a house that has a bunch of roses-and I haven't a clue.

here is a website with the anatomy of a rose bush...and gives you tips as to what to cut or not.
http://www.rosemania.com/Anatomy_of_Bare_Root_Bush.htm

If you google pruning roses-there are a Tbunch of sites to 'weed'through-lol! I just don't have the time right now. Too much to do inside the house :rolleyes:

Hmm...maybe an interim gardener?!

OK, so from what I am seeing, if you prune what they are telling you to prune, there should be only 4 canes left on this bush. Is that what you are getting?

Ugh. I was just out looking at my roses, and I REALLY pruned the wrong stuff last year. I cut all the major canes down. I should have asked this question last fall, huh?

Yeah-it looks like you hack it back to like 4 canes for 'pruning' .

But-pruning you are 'supposed' to do in early autumn. Right now-in spring/summer-you are supposed to dead head-according to the other site. Now if you have roses that need lots of work, I think that the weekly deadheading will help you see what direction the plant is going-and which direction you want it to go in. Then you can think about what needs to be pruned in fall. If you have obviosly 'dead' canes I imagine you could cut those out now. Does that make sense.?

I have to go out and look at mine now-I haven't cut them at all-and we've been here 6 weeks. :rolleyes:

I wish I could help more...

Linda

Ugh. I was just out looking at my roses, and I REALLY pruned the wrong stuff last year. I cut all the major canes down. I should have asked this question last fall, huh?

Ugh-sounds like something I would do. I would just dead head now-and see what happens. I think Roses are a bit forgiving. All is not lost : )

Linda