I hope not! I have two 9 mo old GHs that the deer have pruned. The deers' pruning philosophy in my garden is to eat what they can reach without spending energy stretching up or exerting themselves (by the time they get to my garden they are not very hungry). So, one of my GHs which is in a large pot is being turned into a standard - it has one vertical cane, about 4 feet high. The first 3 feet are completely bare. Then on top is a little bush about 12 inches by 10 inches, with leaves and lots of buds. If I had tried to do that myself, it would not have worked! The other GH is in the ground, is about 2 ft high by 2 ft in diameter, and is bare completely. I spray it with deer go way, but it has been so rainy...I guess I will have to get it a cage to live in.

Jackie

Not a fussy rose.

One of her charms, I think, is that she tolerates pruning very well, if folks care to do it.

You can grow Grandmother's Hat, pruning it as though it were, say, a Grandiflora. I wouldn't prune it really low, but it doesn't mind pruning.

Or you can grow it as an espaliered climber.

Or you can grow it as a tall specimen plant.

Pays yer money, takes yer choice.

Jeri :-)

In this climate, you can assault her with a chain saw and she'll thumb her nose at you and grow every direction she wants, even larger than she was before. As long as the climate suits her, I don't think you can hurt that rose. Kim