posted January 08, 2003 11:40 PM
We have a rose bush in the front of our house (I have no idea what kind it is but it has flourished on the west side of the house) that is totally out of control (we just bought the house). The branches are literally 8-12 ft long with the majority of flowers growing on the ends only. To trim only a little at a time like the books/magazaines suggest will not help. The stump appears partly dead on the edges but has a healthy middle. I want to cut the whole thing out but my husband likes it and insists on it staying. What would happen if, now that it's cold and dormat, I just cut it off at the base and let it regrow this spring (and hopefully train it up a trellis). Or would it be better to leave 3-4 ft of branches and try to tie those to the trellis now? I truly appreciate any and all responses to this problem.
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<patricia>
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posted January 09, 2003 02:21 PM
I would cut back the entire rose to about 6 feet or by half. Then I would get right down to the ground and cut out all diseased, dead and spindly stems to promote vigor and health and air circulation in your rose. Then around March I would start fertilizing with liquid fish fertilizer and in May start with a granular balanced rose fertilizer. You should see a much improved rose for this coming summer!
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posted January 08, 2003 11:40 PM
