Hi Kippy! Yup, Renae, like Annie Laurie McDowell, paves the ends of her canes with flowers from many leaf axes. I wouldn't cut off the cane ends, just the flower buds. There is nutrition in that wood and every leaf counts toward the total for food production and sun protection.

And, yup, what you describe on GH is exactly what she likes to do. With her, though, you honestly don't HAVE to dis bud her. At least with every one I've ever dealt (and that is QUITE a few!) that old nag is going to push growth and flowers at an amazing pace, even without dis budding. If you want to dis bud her, I would, again, only remove the flower buds, leaving all the foliage and wood. Kim

My experience with Renae was that she was a once-bloomer for the first couple of years--the rest of the year spent growing. Then when established, blooms in flushes with good repeat. So you might want to leave a flower cluster, just to see one this year.

Yes on Grandmother's Hat. Just snap the dead blooms off at the abscission point. That's all you have to do. For the first couple of years, don't remove more than you have to.

Once she is a fairly substantial plant, you can (if you wish) prune her more firmly. She can stand up to that.

And Kim is right. You don't really HAVE to deadhead her at all. But she will repeat a bit more quickly, if you do.

Jeri