Jen:

I'm curious...

Why do YOU disbud?

Joe

Joe,

I rarely do... but when I do it's to get a larger bloom than you would if you allowed the small buds on the sides to develop. The energy goes into that one single big bloom, instead of a few smaller blooms per stem. It's a matter of personal preference. Also, disbudding is best done when the buds are just starting to form so the energy isn't wasted forming them only to pinch them off later. Hubby likes to disbud, I don't, because I want more blooms overall.

I think disbudding is done for exhibition to get that nice big fat bud that results in the biggest bloom possible.

I hope I explained that well.... I'm not a rosarian. :-)

Jen

That's exactly what I thought. You explained it very well, Ms. Non-rosarian.

I've seen plenty of hybrid teas and grandifloras disbudded for that purpose -- either for a show/exhibition or for a personal arangement in one's own house.

So, why would one want to disbud a Zephirine Drouhin, a good landscape rose that looks best when COVERED with flowers?

Maybe that's your question, now that I think about it, ay?

Joe

LOL Joe! Maybe that is why I asked, considering where it is situated in the garden. You can see it in the photo below (taken today), straight back on the fence. (Click on the pic to enlarge.) This view is from the family room which leads out to the patio. When in full bloom, it will be a spectacular sight from inside the house.
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And here's a close-up of a cluster of buds taken early this month...
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Jen

No I don't disbud and would tell your hubby his help would be better appreciated weeding. My real reason for commenting is the beautiful healthy foliage seen in the closeup. Al

Jenn hi, I think you have your answer. This is the problem with information that is dispersed. Disbudding is done for exhibition form. Some might take the stronger bud out and let the two side ones get larger for more color.

I'd never disbud an OGR as many times the spring flush is the best. Enjoy your beauty with her fabulous fragrance.

Carol

There is another reason to disbud. When you want the energy that otherwise would be used for a floral display to go into growing (canes). Since you cut ZD back so hard I was wondering why then disbud her? Certain roses can bloom themselves nearly to death. BTW, there's no reason why you couldn't prune several times over the summer to keep her in check, just like fruit trees, the hard winter pruning tends to promote a burst of vigorous growth in spring.

I'm with my friend Carol on this one. Unless you are exhibiting, there's no reason to disbud a mature rose. The only reason to do it otherwise is when you have a rooted cutting that really needs to spend its energy growing roots and leafing out, not making flowers. But if your plant is mature, then don't do it.

Thanks everyone. I did not disbud her for the reasons you stated.

Al, thank you for the nice compliment. I don't have any idea why this disease-prone rose looks so good right now -- maybe it likes unusually (for us) cold winters with frost. ;-)

Here's a new pic I took this afternoon (minutes before a hail storm), with buds opening (click to enlarge).

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So much for the healthy leaves.... the buds are opened but the leaves are mildewed. :-( I don't spray so I'll just have to live with it. It seemed to coincide exactly with the timing of the buds opening.