Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Facebook Twitter YouTube
    Niceville.com
    Niceville.com
    Home»GARDENING»Here’s when and how to prune roses in North Florida
    GARDENING

    Here’s when and how to prune roses in North Florida

    Niceville.comBy Niceville.comFebruary 1, 2023Updated:February 5, 2023No Comments3 Mins Read
    niceville larry williams
    Larry Williams,UF/IFAS Extension Agent, Okaloosa County.

    FLORIDA — Many of the roses grown in Florida require regular maintenance. Part of this maintenance includes pruning. But gardeners sometimes have a hard time getting up the nerve to cut their rose bushes back.

    Matt Orwat, UF/IFAS Extension Agent in Washington County, provides the basics on rose pruning in today’s article.

    The general recommendation on when to prune roses is February 15. If that recommendation is followed, it’s usually not harmful, though climate can be different from the coast to the state line. Because of this, one recommendation is to prune roses when azaleas are in bloom. Typically, azaleas are in full bloom toward the beginning of March.

    The first of March is the time to prune repeat blooming roses regardless of the condition of azaleas. This will allow a few spring bloom cycles before the summer heat arrives.

    When pruning roses, several factors need to be considered. First is the type of rose. Is the rose a hybrid tea, floribunda, old garden rose, shrub, or climber? Is it once blooming or repeat blooming?

    Roses that bloom only once per year and many repeat blooming climbers perform best if pruned after the spring display. This ensures the largest amount of blooms possible.

    Hybrid teas, floribundas, and the like are usually pruned back at least by half, keeping the strongest 4-8 canes and removing old, diseased, damaged, or non-productive wood near the base or juncture of a large cane.

    Old garden roses are seldom pruned hard. The best method in pruning old garden roses is to remove dead, old, or unproductive wood and eliminate crossing branches and excessive inward growth. This opens up the plant and allows for increased airflow, which reduces disease incidence.

    Once the plant has been “opened up,” it may be pruned back by one-third to one-half of its height.

    Pruning back old garden roses by one-third to one-half is not necessary but is often done for space considerations.

    Many shrub roses, such as knockout and various old garden roses, are trimmed several times a year with hedge trimmers. This is often the only pruning done except for the annual removal of dead or non-productive wood.

    Additionally, roses benefit from the removal and disposal of any remaining leaves after the completion of late winter pruning. This helps reduce disease carryover from the previous year and induces a short dormant period.

    Below is a link to a pictorial guide to pruning roses from Orwat and a UF/IFAS Extension link to Growing Roses in Florida:

    http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2015/03/05/rose-pruning-a-pictorial-guide

    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep339

    Larry Williams is the Extension horticulture agent with the Okaloosa County Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida. Contact Larry at 689-5850 or email lwilliams@myokaloosa.com.

    FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    niceville larry williams

    Master Gardener Volunteer Program turns 50

    March 20, 2023
    Office of Attorney General, State of Florida, logo cropped

    35 arrested, alleged massive cocaine trafficking organization is dismantled

    March 19, 2023
    A cabin motorboat under tow by a smaller vessel with a single operator, both vessels silhouetted by the setting sun.

    First vessels removed through Florida’s new Vessel Turn-In Program 

    March 16, 2023

    Comments are closed.

    Categories
    • ANNOUNCEMENTS
    • COMMUNITY
    • GARDENING
    • HEALTH & WELLNESS
    • LARRY WILLIAMS
    • MARKETPLACE
    • MILITARY
    • NORTHWEST FLORIDA
    • OUTDOORS
    • PICTORIAL
    • POLICE / PUBLIC SAFETY
    • ROADS / TRANSPORTATION
    • SCHOOLS
    • STATE
    • THINGS TO DO
    • VIDEO
    The Wharf 850 Niceville, Florida
    COMMUNITY PARTNERS
    • EGLIN FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
    • EYEWEAR UNLIMITED
    • HAIR EXPRESS
    • MIDBAY VETERINARY HOSPITAL
    • NICEVILLE FARMERS MARKET
    • NICEVILLE INSURANCE AGENCY
    • THE PRESCRIPTION PLACE
    • RUCKEL PROPERTIES, INC.
    • THE WHARF 850
    midbay veterinary hospital niceville
    Categories
    • ANNOUNCEMENTS
    • COMMUNITY
    • GARDENING
    • HEALTH & WELLNESS
    • LARRY WILLIAMS
    • MARKETPLACE
    • MILITARY
    • NORTHWEST FLORIDA
    • OUTDOORS
    • PICTORIAL
    • POLICE / PUBLIC SAFETY
    • ROADS / TRANSPORTATION
    • SCHOOLS
    • STATE
    • THINGS TO DO
    • VIDEO
    The Wharf 850 Niceville, Florida

    ABOUT NICEVILLE.COM

    © 2023 Niceville.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.