Q.
Last fall I planted five rose bushes and they appear to being doing well. Three
of the bushes have one large stem growing from the middle of the bush. Should I
cut the large stems back to make the bushes more symmetric?
Last fall I planted five rose bushes and they appear to being doing well. Three
of the bushes have one large stem growing from the middle of the bush. Should I
cut the large stems back to make the bushes more symmetric?
A.
Very strong growth from plants grafted to rootstocks is frequently a sign the
rootstock has sent up a sucker. This type of growth must be removed or it will
dominate the plant and squelch the growth from the good part of the plant.
Trace this growth back to its origin
and identify where the union is located between the rootstock and the top of
the plant that we value for the flowers. Remove this type of growth without
leaving any stubs.
and identify where the union is located between the rootstock and the top of
the plant that we value for the flowers. Remove this type of growth without
leaving any stubs.
The union should be a swollen part
of the plant that may resemble, in looks, like a gall or tumor but it is not.
If this strong growth is coming from this spot or below it, remove it as close
to the parent plant as possible.
of the plant that may resemble, in looks, like a gall or tumor but it is not.
If this strong growth is coming from this spot or below it, remove it as close
to the parent plant as possible.
The cut does not have to be
sanitized but your pruning shears should be and be careful not to let your
shears touch the soil before cutting. You can transmit some problems from the
soil to the plant on your shears through the open wound.
sanitized but your pruning shears should be and be careful not to let your
shears touch the soil before cutting. You can transmit some problems from the
soil to the plant on your shears through the open wound.
Wow very interesting
Wow very interesting