Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Remember that the harder you prune, the
bigger the flowers, but also the less bush you
have for that space in the landscape.
Cluster-flowered roses
Roses that bloom in clusters of buds that
open at varying times are a landscape
stalwart. They include the floribundas, David
Austen roses, polyanthas as well as the
miniature and so-called carpet roses (see
Table 4.12).
In the case of the larger growing floribundas
and David Austens, see Figure 4.38.
The main stems of these types of roses can be
cut to about 25 to 45 cm from the graft in late
winter/spring. Graduate the stems so that
growth is produced at the base as well as
allowing for some height. Shorten the side
growths to about two to three buds and cut
out any weak, crossed or dead wood (see
Figure 4.39).
Figure 4.40
A very straggly neglected miniature rose.
As with the hybrid teas, renew the rose by
reducing a third of the old stems to 10 to
15 cm (see Figure 4.36).
Polyanthas, miniatures and carpet roses
are the bedding plants of the rose family.
Low in stature, they have proportionally
smaller stems. Deadheading is always
beneficial, but structural winter/spring
pruning can be fiddly. It is important to
remember that these roses thrive under the
tender ministrations of council workers
wielding brush-cutters and other
mechanised pruning equipment. Those
pruners who wish to can follow the same
pruning technique for the f floribundas and
David Austens; however, these smaller roses
Figure 4.41
Shear off the top two-thirds.
can be simply sheared off by about two-
thirds of their original height with no ill
effect. This approach is especially rewarding
with miniature roses. Of course, the removal
of dead, crossed and twiggy wood will be of
benefit (see Figures 4.40 to 4.43). They need
only about a fifth of their old wood reduced
to a few centimetres in order to renew the
bush on a regular basis.
