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Oklahoma Gardening

its rose cane canker- now how do I prune?

14 years ago

Thanks to all of you for helping me figure out what is wrong with my Knockout roses. Upon closer inspection- it is cane canker which is on every single cane almost down to the ground! Now what? I know Sammy mentioned cutting back but i am not sure how much and proper procedures. I got out there an started pruning and decided I'd better consult the rose people before I do any more chopping.

1. Now what? Do I give up and replant? Or severely prune?

2. If I prune that drastically, how do I do it?

3. How on earth can I keep this from happening again? It is a grouping of 4.

Thanks sooo much everyone! What would I do without you all?!

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Comments (2)

sammy zone 7 Tulsa
14 years ago
I have begun cutting my roses, but I know I will need to cut them again. I hate to see so many new sprouts come out knowing I will cut them. I would never cut my Knock Outs or any other rose to the ground this early. That would come around the first of April.

The roses will have energy from last year for the first bloom. If you do not cut the canker, you need to remember that in time the cane will not produce well. There is an argument that you need some of the canes to do the photosynthesis, absorb water, etc.

I don't think it hurts to cut the Knock Outs down to about 2 feet. I would not do that to the older roses.

Sammy
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
14 years ago
Prune well beneath the canker and dispose of all the prunings by bagging them and throwing them away. Disinfect the pruners between plants. Cut at about a 45 degree angle and make sure your pruners are nice and sharp before you start so they'll make clean cuts.

I hope the canker is not too low on the canes or you'll be cutting back the Knockout roses lower than generally is recommended.

I remember when Knockouts were first introduced and were touted as being extremely disease-resistant. I have been surprised how many people have had major black spot and canker issues with them....but that is a reminder to us all that resistance is merely resistance, not immunity.
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I can't tell for sure from your photo, but is that a borer hole in the middle of the cut end of the dead cane portion in question? If it is, removing the damaged section to live, good growth will produce and expose a fresh cut that will be vulnerable to future borer damage that will need to be addressed. Most folks who have borer problems seal fresh cut ends to prevent new borer invasions. If the dead section is due to borer damage, the soon to emerge insect may still be in the stem or it may be old borer damage and the resident insect is long gone. The stem will continue to die down to the point where the insect's tunnel terminates. Some borer tunnels go down as far as the crown! Everything has to be cut back to tunnel free good wood then the cut end sealed. If that dark spot in the photo is not a borer hole, I do what Marlorena does, cut back by increments to good, white pith wood. All growth above that point is sacrificed.
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