Columns
Green Thumb: January: Pruning time in garden
By Bettye Jo Preis, Master Gardener
Roses become a plant of great interest in January. Not only have its admirers poured over rose catalogs all winter deciding which gorgeous blossoms to add to their collection but, also, it’s time to prune.
If you like to learn by looking, you should attend the Thursday seminar at the East Center where Les and Suzanne Hayt will bring roses to prune and will talk about rose culture. They are the owners of Greenbelt Nursery, which specializes in citrus and roses. And, they are also American Rose Society life judges as well as consulting rosarians.
The pruning accomplished in January reduces the plant to its strongest canes eliminating all canes thinner than a pencil, all cross growing canes, dead ones (of course), and all the leaves. What you have then is three to five sturdy canes without leaves about 15 to 18 inches tall. This “cutting back” promotes healthy, vigorous growth in the spring.
This is also the time when “bare root” roses are available at local nurseries. The largest growing fields of roses are in California’s San Joaquin Valley. There they are grown in rows like corn. The first thing to be planted is the understock (also called rootstock). After the roots become established, the desired variety of rose is grafted onto the roots. These plants are allowed to grow in the fields for about 18 months. They are then harvested, topped to about 18 inches, tagged and sent to market.
According to Hayt, roses for Southern Arizona should be on “Dr. Huey” understock. “Dr. Huey” is an old climber, very vigorous and well suited to our hot weather and alkaline soil and water. If you are ordering from a catalog, be sure to inquire (if you can talk to a live person) about the root stock of the roses you wish to order. Also, roses need to be planted by Feb. 15 in Green Valley, so be sure they can be shipped before that date.
Bare root roses are dormant plants that have no leaves and no soil around the roots. The best way to buy them is from a nursery where they have been placed in wet sawdust so that you can see the entire plant. It should have at least three canes at least 15 inches long, a good root ball, should not be coated with wax and should not have sprouted out with big buds and leaves.
Roses are graded #1, #1 ? and #2. Hayt advises that you buy only grade # 1.
After buying a bare root plant:
Be sure you keep it moist and plant as soon as possible;
Dig a hole that is three to four times wider than the root ball and just as deep;
Add generous amounts of compost to the soil and work it in thoroughly before planting;
Set the rose in the hole with the plant slightly above the soil line;
Fill the hole, pressing the soil gently to remove air pockets. Water generously and then water every two to three days for three weeks.
Roses grow best in full sun and in well-drained, fertile soil.
Buying a rose bush in a five gallon container will probably give you the best results because the root system will have had room to fully develop. Also, you will be able to see the blooms, leaves and number of canes. These can be planted anytime in the spring
Bring your questions for the Hayts and join the Green Valley Gardeners for coffee at 9 a.m. The program starts at 9:30 a.m.
Green Valley Gardeners want to express their gratitude to GVR for allowing all of our seminars to be presented at the East Center in 2008. The lovely garden makes it feel like home, and our “Garden Fair” will take place there in April.
Bettye Jo Preis is a Green Valley writer and Master Gardener.
If you like to learn by looking, you should attend the Thursday seminar at the East Center where Les and Suzanne Hayt will bring roses to prune and will talk about rose culture. They are the owners of Greenbelt Nursery, which specializes in citrus and roses. And, they are also American Rose Society life judges as well as consulting rosarians.
The pruning accomplished in January reduces the plant to its strongest canes eliminating all canes thinner than a pencil, all cross growing canes, dead ones (of course), and all the leaves. What you have then is three to five sturdy canes without leaves about 15 to 18 inches tall. This “cutting back” promotes healthy, vigorous growth in the spring.
This is also the time when “bare root” roses are available at local nurseries. The largest growing fields of roses are in California’s San Joaquin Valley. There they are grown in rows like corn. The first thing to be planted is the understock (also called rootstock). After the roots become established, the desired variety of rose is grafted onto the roots. These plants are allowed to grow in the fields for about 18 months. They are then harvested, topped to about 18 inches, tagged and sent to market.
According to Hayt, roses for Southern Arizona should be on “Dr. Huey” understock. “Dr. Huey” is an old climber, very vigorous and well suited to our hot weather and alkaline soil and water. If you are ordering from a catalog, be sure to inquire (if you can talk to a live person) about the root stock of the roses you wish to order. Also, roses need to be planted by Feb. 15 in Green Valley, so be sure they can be shipped before that date.
Bare root roses are dormant plants that have no leaves and no soil around the roots. The best way to buy them is from a nursery where they have been placed in wet sawdust so that you can see the entire plant. It should have at least three canes at least 15 inches long, a good root ball, should not be coated with wax and should not have sprouted out with big buds and leaves.
Roses are graded #1, #1 ? and #2. Hayt advises that you buy only grade # 1.
After buying a bare root plant:
Roses grow best in full sun and in well-drained, fertile soil.
Buying a rose bush in a five gallon container will probably give you the best results because the root system will have had room to fully develop. Also, you will be able to see the blooms, leaves and number of canes. These can be planted anytime in the spring
Bring your questions for the Hayts and join the Green Valley Gardeners for coffee at 9 a.m. The program starts at 9:30 a.m.
Green Valley Gardeners want to express their gratitude to GVR for allowing all of our seminars to be presented at the East Center in 2008. The lovely garden makes it feel like home, and our “Garden Fair” will take place there in April.
Bettye Jo Preis is a Green Valley writer and Master Gardener.
Copyright © 2009 - Green Valley News and Sun