Pre-fall semi-hard pruning

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I usually prune most of my bushes (not real climbers, Teas and the like or once bloomers but most of the rest) at this time of year in anticipation of cooler weather (and hopefully some rain..) and the fall flush. I prune them about half as much as I would prune them before spring. I find this revitalises them after the long hot summer so they will give me good blooms well into winter almost up to January-February pruning time. Do any of you gardening in a med type climate do the same?

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catspa_zone9sunset14

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

My practice is along the lines of what needmoremulch does -- I tend to do "extreme deadheading" after each flush, cutting off at least a foot and often more, on most of the hybrid teas and a few others. Otherwise they all end the season too tall. Even so, Fred Howard, Gruss an Coburg, and Snowbird, each just starting their third flush of the season, are between 6 and 7 feet tall right now, with many new buds. They have more energy than I by this time of the year, I can tell you.

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Comments (10)

needmoremulch
9 years ago
Not a med climate, but hot and humid, and yes, I do a pre-fall pruning. Actually, on some roses I do more like 3 prunings: spring, after spring flush, and late summer/pre-fall.
nikthegreek thanked needmoremulch
Melissa Northern Italy zone 8
9 years ago
I never have, partly because most of my roses don't need it, and then we need to get enough rain early enough in the fall for the roses to develop a flush, which often doesn't happen. I was hoping for a big rain like the forecast predicted last night--it didn't come--in which case I would have been out with the pruners.
nikthegreek thanked Melissa Northern Italy zone 8
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ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
There's no guarantee that it will rain at all for the rest of the year and I doubt that the roses would bounce back for fall, but then almost all of my roses are small. I want catspat's garden!
nikthegreek thanked ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
barbarag_happy
9 years ago
Risky here.. Zone 8a Virginia is a narrow coastal band with winters with low temps and no snow cover. I would definitely prune the way you are doing if I thought I could get away with it!

We routinely do "hurricane pruning" and eliminate tall canes that rise high above the body of the plant. Some staking is helpful too.

Over time I have become much more cautious of fall feeding and pruning, since the occasionally really cold winter is really tough on the the teas and chinas-- and the hybrid Bourbons in the SDLM family-- notably Mystic Beauty and SDSA.
nikthegreek thanked barbarag_happy
nikthegreek
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
No risk of winter damage for any roses here, ever! Not even for the most tender ones where the most that could happen to them is defoliation and maybe some tip damage. Apart from wind damage, that is. All time low where I live has been -6C (21F). Enough to damage citrus (and even some young olive trees) but not roses.
kittymoonbeam
9 years ago
Nik, I'm watching the Huntington. Last year they timed it beautifully so this year I'm following what they do.
nikthegreek thanked kittymoonbeam
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
9 years ago
Savannah and Winchester Cathedral are getting a nice hair cut. Savannah is a monster. She must be 6 ft tall. Her first year too

Good heavens!.
nikthegreek thanked Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
nikthegreek
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I had to stop my pre-fall pruning halfway due to unseasonally hot weather (in the mid 90s)... Neither the roses nor I like pruning in this heat.. Back to mid-summer watering schedule... At least one can still enjoy the sea..
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
9 years ago
Weird weather everywhere

We are a bit cooler than normal. We usually have hot Septembers but down to the 60s tomorrow . Savannah got a nice cut back as did Beverly. They both have a bit over PM

Enjoy the sea