Pruning Question

I have a rose that got clobbered by a palm frond and all I have left is one main cane. What is the the best approach to encourage new canes. Cut the current cane very short or leave it at around 20cm?

Thanks
Brett  

I should add that the rose has a strong root system and is in a pot. Given it a good dose of seasol but on closer inspection this morning have noticed the the one cane has a split down the centre back to the base of the rose. I have tied the cane for now and fingers crossed.

Brett, a little trick I have learnt and pass on when asked is,
Do as Doug has mentioned, next clean around the 'top' of the bud union with a soft clean cloth, then with the "softest" of scouring pad "rub" the whole area lightly and this will induce basal shoots, hope it works for you.

Ausrose wrote:

This happened to a couple of my Gold Medals a couple of years back. I trimmed them back used Seasol on them once a week at rate of (30mls/9litres) for a couple of weeks. They came back and blooms from them won a champion grandiflora ribbon at a regional show. With your damaged bush just give it clean cut where it broke and cut off any part there of lateral canes that may exist then give it Seasol as described and some TLC. Having just read your second post I would bind the stem as well as I suggested then pray.

Thanks for the advice Ausrose! Have done exactly as you suggest and now fingers crossed!

roseman wrote:Brett, a little trick I have learnt and pass on when asked is,
Do as Doug has mentioned, next clean around the 'top' of the bud union with a soft clean cloth, then with the "softest" of scouring pad "rub" the whole area lightly and this will induce basal shoots, hope it works for you.

That is interesting Roseman. Will definitely give that a shot. I have a few other roses that could do with a helping hand.

As mentioned Brett, only rub lightly, you only want to remove the "dry bark" which will initiate the basal buds.

roseman wrote:As mentioned Brett, only rub lightly, you only want to remove the "dry bark" which will initiate the basal buds.

I did as you suggested and gave the area a light seasol.

If you get a chance Brett, could you document(photo) the changes if it occurs, which I am confident it will. I have used it around here with good success.
Regards David.

Will do David! 50mm plus rain Saturday, a little rub, a little seasol and now it is up to the rose  

I think this will be a good outcome, the rain is dead set bonus

Good Evening David,

Have been searching the net regarding your rubbing idea and so far I haven't found a lot of detail but plenty suggest a wire brush to clean up the rose bud union to encourage new basal shoots. What are your thoughts? Should we be giving most of our roses a brush around the bud union. To be honest I have only been growing roses for around 5 years so most of my roses are young and haven't got a lot of old bark etc yet but then I have roses that after pruning have just two main canes and maybe could do with a little helping hand to get a few new shoots.

Cheers
Brett

Evening Brett, the wire brush idea would go well on "BIG" old plants that need rejuvenation, the idea of some thing softer is for younger plants. If you can imagine a scourer that is used on those stove tops that are of ceramic/glass make, that is what I would consider. I will in the next day or so take some photo's of what I would use a steel brush on and one of a younger plant with the other type of scourer, hope this helps Brett.

Thanks David that would be great!

Hi David these first two are of the same rose and it is in need of some help. Only one cane and messy around the bud union. Not to mention white scale.

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This one is of a standard rose where one bud is in need of new shoots. I will be interested in your or others thoughts.

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I am not sure Dr Christiaan Barnard could revive the Rasberry Tiger however I would follow David's advice as in a lot of cases it does work.Good luck.

Hi Ausrose,

It is one I inherited from my Aunty recently. I'll give its dues it still flowers well considering it's condition. I have since repotted it and given it a good go with Lime Sulphur and Seasol but have been unsure what to do next as it looks like it wont take much to knock it over.

I guess nothing ventured nothing learned.

Cheers
Brett

one needs to be gentle also when using the wire brush...(try the softer brass one), because you can have a tendency to rub off new growth that is not visible to the eye

After many years of advice from the AQ I have finally come to the conclusion at times I persevere too long with roses that aren't performing hoping for a miracle. Take for instance a Manou Meilland I've had in a pot for a number of years that hasn't performed. I've spent a disproportionate amount of time and money giving it special treatment and still it's useless. Also it is taking up space that is very limited. Looking back it would have been far better if I spade pruned it years ago after all a replacement would have cost about $9. Many of the top exhibitors spade prune roses that aren't performing after two years.

neptune wrote:one needs to be gentle also when using the wire brush...(try the softer brass one), because you can have a tendency to rub off new growth that is not visible to the eye

Or worse I guess Neptune ring bark the rose!!  

Ausrose wrote:After many years of advice from the AQ I have finally come to the conclusion at times I persevere too long with roses that aren't performing hoping for a miracle. Take for instance a Manou Meilland I've had in a pot for a number of years that hasn't performed. I've spent a disproportionate amount of time and money giving it special treatment and still it's useless. Also it is taking up space that is very limited. Looking back it would have been far better if I spade pruned it years ago after all a replacement would have cost about $9. Many of the top exhibitors spade prune roses that aren't performing after two years.

You could be right Ausrose the spade maybe the better approach sometimes although I would love to learn all I can and give it my best and hopefully reap some rewards. Nothing beats a good result!

Ausrose wrote:. Many of the top exhibitors spade prune roses that aren't performing after two years.

This is what I do....... I don't have the space and the time to waste on a non performer

I guess where I find it hard is if the rose has performed in the past you want to give it a chance. Then on the other hand as Ausrose said how long do you wait when a bare root rose will solve the problem in a jiffy. I like challenges and learning new things but some roses could test the resolve.  

Brett, you give it another chance by learning how to bud roses

roseman wrote:Brett, you give it another chance by learning how to bud roses

Can't wait for my lesson thanks David.