Green Thumb: Roses: Pruning them right!

In keeping with what has become a tradition for Green Valley Gardeners’ seminar series, we kick off the season with our longtime friend and supporter, Les Hayt. Until recently Les and his wife, Suzanne, were the owners of The Greenbelt Nursery. Sadly, after 26 years, Les and Suzanne decided to retire. They are greatly missed.

However, we told Les we cannot start the season without him.

On Thursday, he will demonstrate the art of rose pruning and will discuss their care.

Hayt is an American Rose Society Life Judge and both he and Suzanne are Certified Rosarians. They both judge rose competitions around the Southwest each April and May. A native Arizonan, Hayt started in the nursery business in 1972 after graduating from the U of A.

Healthy, vigorous growth from roses could never take place without pruning during the course of the year.

Pruning is an art form that is best learned by doing -— after watching a professional and asking questions, which is what this forum will provide.

Roses are pruned hard in January for shape and to foster vigorous spring growth and bloom.

Dead and spindly canes are removed along with branches less than a pencil’s width. At this time, all the leaves are also removed. The resulting bush will have several strong canes and be about a third of the original size. Suckers should also be removed. (These are canes that originate from rootstock below the bud union.) Try to leave the center of the plant open.

January is also the time of year when bare root roses are available in Southern Arizona.

They are dormant plants and 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 sawdust with several plants of each variety available.

The plant should have at least three canes 15 inches long, a good root ball, should not be coated with wax and should not have sprouted out with big buds and leaves.

Hayt advises that you purchase only grade No. 1 and be sure that the understock is “Dr. Huey.” Most all roses are grafted onto a separate understock and since Dr. Huey is an old rose, very vigorous and well suited to our hot weather and alkaline soil and water, it is highly recommended. Roses should be planted in Southern Arizona by Feb. 15. If you are ordering from a catalog, be sure you can obtain them by that date and inquire about the root stock.

The Green Valley Gardeners’ Winter/Spring seminar series has been finalized.

If you want a copy of the various topics to be covered through April, you may pick up a schedule at the East Center before the rose demonstration takes place.

Doors open at 9 a.m. for coffee, the demonstration begins at 9:30 and lasts approximately one hour. All seminars are open to the pubic and free of charge.

Green Thumb articles are written by members of Green Valley Gardeneers with the assistance of seminar speakers.