Mix of different roses all overgrown and need of prunning?

Theresa Wunk
by Theresa Wunk
It is July in North New Jersey

  7 answers
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jul 20, 2017

    Cut out all dead wood and crossing and weak branches, then cut to desired shape.

  • Caroline Haynes Caroline Haynes on Jul 20, 2017

    It's a Polk plant. When it is young in the spring you can eat the young leaves. If you like to have a natural dye, pick the berries when they turn purple, put them in a container with a gallon of water and some wood ash...mix it up and squish the berries, strain into another container and dye any material.

  • K. K. on Jul 20, 2017

    It is best not to prune until the blooming season is over.

    First remove all suckers, they grow out of the base of the rose and keep them cut off until they finally stop growing. Do this even if it gets roses on it. Suckers are like weeds in that they steal nutrients from the plant you want growing pretty.

    Remove any parts crossing over itself (on the same plant).

    Remove anything growing down.

    Prune just above a leaf bracket to encourage new growth ( about 1/4" to 1/2" above).

    Most important do not trim the bush more than one third at a time. Too much more that that and the plant stresses out and some don't come out of it.

    I inherited a rose bed over 20 years ago, of thirty roses that were half dead and severely overgrown. I followed this advice and only lost one rose. That poor thing was just one twig when I got to it.

    Finally feed them with a liquid fertilizer per package directions and be sure the ground is already damp or you'll burn the roots and cause the plant more stress. Good luck!

  • Theresa Wunk Theresa Wunk on Jul 20, 2017

    Thanks so very much. They have been so neglected . I hope I can save them

  • Gretchen Williams Arrant Gretchen Williams Arrant on Jul 20, 2017

    Prune in fall, before any frost or freeze. If they were mine, I'd cut them back to a height of 8-10inches. I would also clean my pruners for each bush in case one might have a problem. Then clean the area around them. They should be beautiful when they bloom, early summer.

  • DesertRose DesertRose on Jul 21, 2017

    prune after winter just begins or in spring before they begin putting out leaves