Hi Eskota, Pruning sealer is something that Gator and I disagree on. As has been mentioned, Linda Chalker-Scott is not the end-all authority for horticulture, but at least her conclusions are scientifically based. Below is a link of what she has to say regarding pruning sealer. I do think Bug Juice could have a small slight residual benefit if you are concerned about borers colonizing a pruning wound. Not that there is anything particularly special about Bug Juice (i.e. Deltamethrin) vs. other pyrethroids, but any broad spectrum insecticide will tend to slow borers down. I think there could be some advantage to treating large wounds with a strong copper solution. The reason is that large wounds can take many years to heal over. If the wound is large enough the wood in the center of wound can rot before the wound calluses over completely. If that happens, it will leave a hole that could trap water in the hole and slow callusing even more. Copper is decidedly different than asphalt or caulk type products that are routinely sold for wound dressings. Copper will not seal in moisture. I will also point out that my comments regarding copper are not based upon scientific testing. They are based only on deduction and some experience. Deductively, copper has fairly good broad spectrum fungicide activity. Copper is also one of the preservatives of treated lumber. And again copper will not seal in moisture as other wound dressings can. I first learned of this idea from an arborist who posted on a different forum. He claimed to have used this treatment with good success. My experience is also anecdotal. I've tried it on one very large wound. I treated the wound a couple times in the last three years and haven't seen any rotting of the core wood yet. The wound continues to close up. It was probably the largest wound I've made (about 6"). I've made several smaller wounds 4" or less and haven't put any copper on them and they've healed up themselves. I do try to spray big wounds when I spray the fruit for insects and disease. Generally I have an insecticide and fungicide in the tank mix, so the wounds get attention of a sort. I try not to let unwanted limbs get so far ahead of me that I have to use a chain saw. I'm getting better and for the last few years I've only made large wounds where I let central leader trees (like pears) get too tall and am bringing them down slowly. Here is a link that might be useful: Linda Scott - Wound dressings

Anita I am so sorry you thought no one carried! I bet like me they wanted it to stay on the top until closer to the event. I am so thankful that Mendocino commented on it and I hope some GW'ers make it As a side note, my 2015 resolution is to work on raising my FB friends awareness of old roses. It is easy to share a post with a comment. I am really enjoying the "Friends of Vintage Gardens" daily posts and am trying to share regularly. I know it takes time to do each one and I appreciate the work behind it. I also have shared the Sac and San Jose garden posts. Even though I can't attend I hope a friend local to them will get interested. I hope others do the same and as a group we can all work to raise awareness of Antique or Rare Roses

Just bringing this back to the top as a reminder -- the event is THIS Saturday (1/31). We hope many of you will be able to attend. If you're a total newby, come and learn how to prune and train your roses from some experts; if you're a seasoned rosarian, come and lend a hand in getting Ruth's Rose Garden into perfect condition for the spring growth flush. Contrary to the above blurb, we will likely NOT do any pruning on Friday, but Saturday and Monday, definitely. On Sunday, Stephen will be talking about the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden of the New York Botanic Garden (where he is curator), and about the development of the New York Heritage Rose District and FSC's several years of student service-learning trips, as well as tentative plans for another project there, this spring. Hope to see you there!

Malcolm, this sounds so fun and wonderful! I wish I could be there - Jackie from Northern Calif