Rose pruning question
Hi, I have a floribunda rose (Korresia) that is now in it's 3rd year. I bought it as very small plant and it produced a few very large flowers in the first year, and then last year a profusion of large and smaller flowers.
As a novice rose grower I've been reading various advice on pruning these roses and the consensus appears to be to reduce by about a third, or to leave 4 new buds on the canes. I have removed some of the weaker, spindly canes.
However, as you can probably see from the picture, the plant, which is about waist high, has the majority of new growth at, or near, the tops of the canes. I'm concerned that if I prune I will lose this years' flowering, but that if I don't the plant will become top heavy.
Do the 'inactive' bud nodes lower down the canes get stimulated into growth by pruning? Any advice will be most welcome.
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I think I'd cut it back by half to two thirds of it's current height - cut back to some good outward facing buds and give it some Fish Blood and Bonemeal (as directed on the pack) - it'll grow strong new shoots which will flower this year. Now is the perfect time to do it
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Prune back to leave 4/5 stems by two thirds and prune to outward facing buds. The harder you prune the more and stronger growth you'll get. Feed after pruning and mulch it. It may be in shadow which is why you'll lose the lower leaves. Keep it well watered as it's too close to the wall. It should be at least a foot from the wall, if not more.
Hi, thanks for your responses. It confirms what I've been reading. So I'll lose all the new growth but get new growth on the existing canes?
BTW, Dave, it's at least 18" from the wall. The angle I took the photo' has foreshortened the background. It's also in a damp but free draining, east-facing border. You can see the moss on the wall.
Yes, you'll get lots of lovely new growth from buds lower down on the canes and they'll produce more and better flowers than if you left it as it is.
When it flowers it would be lovely to see a photo
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks Dove, all done this afternoon, cut and fed. I certainly will post some pic's when it flowers again, In the meantime here's a couple from last summer.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Stunning!
lovely, hope i've pruned all mine right!