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Pruning question - pruning young small roses?

12 years ago

What size/age roses are too small/young to prune? Does the answer vary if it is a climber? What if the rose only has one or two small stems?

I really ask because I would like to take cuttings to try and propogate but concerned I could end up losing the main plant.

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Comments (5)

jerijen
12 years ago
If the plant is that small, it would be best to wait until it has more growth before removing any of what it has.

Jeri
roseseek
12 years ago
I agree with Jeri. Many store the nutrients they need to grow in the wood they have. Once they've produced enough new growth, you may, if you choose, remove the old cutting which produced the new growth. Unless it's too old and unproductive, or diseased/damaged, I just leave it until it's obvious it isn't needed or just looks too bad. In the absence of disease or pest issues, it can't hurt to just leave it alone. Kim
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jerijen
12 years ago
I think part of the problem is that folks are CONDITIONED from childhood to believe that ROSES MUST BE PRUNED.

When, in fact, there are many roses, and many circumstances, in which pruning is not only not necessary -- it's not even benign.

Jeri
cweathersby
12 years ago
I've had the most success with propogation when I did it during the summer months. Don't know why, but it's something I've seen over and over.
I've also never never ever lost a rose of any size when I pruned it after April when it was actively growing and all cool nights are over. I have lost roses from my early spring pruning, or even (trying to learn from that lesson) pruning around the time of the first flush. Again, I don't know why, I just know that I've killed a lot of roses through spring pruning.
That being said, I wouldn't prune any small roses except for the reason you've listed: propogation.
cemeteryrose
12 years ago
Miriam Wilkins (founder of Heritage Roses Group) said not to prune old roses until they are at least three years old. I'm told that's how the roses in the Sacramento cemetery were grown, as well. If a rose is in the way or there's dead in it, I'd certainly take out my shears, but otherwise I think that it's smart to just let it establish. Sometimes it will send out what seems to be awkward new growth, but often those canes are just the size that the plant wants to be. Definitely, I'd wait to propagate until the plant is more mature.
Anita

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