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Dog Rose pruning

Elizabeth225Elizabeth225 Posts: 96
in Problem solving
Could anyone tell me please if it is ok to prune my Dog Rose bush hard back now,as a lot of the bark underneath has gone brown.thank you in advance.
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Posts

  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I am trying to picture this. We have a dog rose scrambling through a hedge and honeysuckle and from time to time the whole lot gets cut back a bit, usually in winter. The mature wood does go brown but you can't see much of it. In what way do you want to improve things?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited August 2021
    I'm also confused ... it's in the nature of the wild dog rose ... Rosa canina ... that it just grows and scrambles and the mature wood is brown.  

    Are you talking about the true Rosa canina ... 💡or is this a single flowered rambler or species rose, sometimes confusingly/mistakenly called a Dog Rose?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I have a Rosa canina in the corner of one of my beds that has grown into a self supporting shrub/ small tree shape about 6ft high. As it has a small canopy other plants tuck in underneath it and yes, the wood is brown.
    If I were to cut it back, it would make a multi-stemmed bush and take up more room and look less attractive than it does now. The grey-green leaves are pretty and the hips are already swelling to make a lovely autumn spectacle and a feast for the birds that will last well into winter.
  • Elizabeth225Elizabeth225 Posts: 96
    Thank you everyone for your advice,Posy i just thought the brown wood meant it was dead underneath,im a bit of a novice with Roses.I will leave it alone then if the brown wood is normal.Thanks again everyone.
  • Elizabeth225Elizabeth225 Posts: 96
    Dovefromabove,To be honest i dont know what the true name of it is,it was in the garden when i moved in,it isnt a single flowered one,ii has clusters of little white flowers,i just call it a dog rose.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Ah ... hence my confusion.  

    If you post a photo it may well be possible for @marlorena and/or @nollie or one of the other rose experts to identify it for you ... then you can find out exactly how to look after it so that it looks its best for you.  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Elizabeth225Elizabeth225 Posts: 96
    Hi dovefromabove, Thank you. This is my Rose.xx
  • Elizabeth225Elizabeth225 Posts: 96
    Sorry I’m having trouble sending it.
  • Elizabeth225Elizabeth225 Posts: 96
    This is it.pe your comment
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It's very pretty ... hopefully someone will be able to identify it for you  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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