Wait until February to prune roses for spring

What a rollercoaster ride we’ve been having with temperatures since November! Although daytime highs have ranged from 50s to 60s, they’ve still been as much as 10 degrees below normal. Night temps at or below 32 degrees – some nights with hard freezes – have certainly put some of my non-rose plants at risk – but what a relief to not have a repeat of last year’s snowstorm!

The recent rains are certainly promising, but aren’t anywhere close to what is needed to solve four years of drought. The cold temps and rain result in colder than usual ground which further delays any thought of any root activity or plant growth.

The next big task in the rose garden will be our annual spring pruning – I will provide details on that in my February column. This will be a major pruning that removes canes and branches that are dead or diseased, are in contact with other branches, and/or that pass through the interior of the plant. It also brings the plant down to three to five major canes, each about 18” tall, and re-directs growth to new "basal" canes and outward-facing buds on strong existing canes. When done properly, this major pruning produces a strong, well-formed plant that optimizes flower production.

Many gardeners mistakenly think that "spring" pruning in December or early January will give them a head start on flower production, but this is a delusion.

First, consider that even if January brings us exceptionally warm air temperatures, the soil will still be quite cold, so the roots (and stems) will not be "revved up" for much active growth – a head start won’t amount to much. And more importantly, if early pruning is followed by a hard frost, you will probably lose the tender young growth and have to prune again. Will the remaining canes be long enough and have enough stored energy for vigorous spring growth? Will you have enough outward-facing buds? Probably not. Simply stated, pruning too early will set back stem growth and flower production, and can ruin your chances of strong, well-formed plants.

So before you pick up those pruners and launch out into the chilly January air, contemplate the odds of another frost or freeze. Frost dates can be expected through late March, but we can get damaging frost as late as April. Time your pruning more closely to when the soil begins to warm, temperatures moderate, and the threat of frost is likely past. Pruning in mid-January (at the earliest) to mid-February usually strikes a balance between potential frost damage and time to get two or three good bloom cycles in before the brutal summer.

New growth will usually appear two to three weeks after a spring pruning, and new blooms 8 to 12 weeks from pruning – if a cold spell doesn’t interrupt.

For now, just "chill." January and February are excellent months for planting new roses; let’s be optimistic that the weather for the next few weeks will be relatively dry and warm so planting will be easier. Still, one can usually wait until March to plant and still expect the roots to form relationships with beneficial soil fungi and become showstoppers as early as May, well ahead of the heat of summer.

For now, be thinking about adding one or two new roses to your garden in spring. Roses offered for sale are rated by quality. You want only #1 roses – they are the surest guarantee of success, with all horticultural methods employed to provide satisfaction – don't waste your time and money on anything lower. Higher quality plants have a higher chance of success, require less effort, and acclimate faster. Also, the cost of any rose is a very small fraction of what you will eventually invest in that plant over the years in water, fertilizer, pest control, and effort, so why not start with a first-quality plant?

Roses may come as "bare root," potted, or packaged. Bare root plants are just that, usually packed in wood chips to keep the roots damp and viable. They are the slowest to thrive and it is best to get them early and planted immediately so they have the maximum amount of time to become established. Potted roses make the quickest and most successful transition to the garden, but they also tend to be more expensive and not as plentiful in selection, but as I said, the initial cost will pale against what you put into the plant in the years to come.

There are many sources: local nurseries and reputable online retailers who specialize in roses. New stock will begin appearing in nurseries this month, and online suppliers usually ship in mid-January. Does that tell you anything?

I will provide more guidance on that all-important annual pruning in a February column.