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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Rogue Valley doctor runs for governor on climate change platform ... Emergency services, Oct. 16 ... Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter ... Rogue Valley doctor runs for governor on climate change platform ... Emergency services, Oct. 16 ... Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter ... Carol Link: Pruning rose plants, step by step Comment By Carol Link More Content Now MailTribune.com By Carol Link More Content Now Posted Apr. 2, 2015 at 7:59 AM By Carol Link More Content Now Posted Apr. 2, 2015 at 7:59 AM » Social News Recently, a large number of rose plants at the Etowah County Master Gardeners’ greenhouses were in dire need of pruning, and the task was relegated to me. Before beginning, I retrieved my personal work gloves, which are perfect for pruning roses because they fit well and are constructed of tough leather that will prevent thorns from ripping the flesh on my hands. I also wore a heavy denim shirt under an old sweatshirt that day, to protect my arms. After locating sets of sharp clippers and loppers, I was ready to get to work. To avoid stooping to prune each plant, I set up two large tubs in a wagon, turning them upside down, to use as a table and placed another tub on the ground to hold the prickly rose clippings. After placing the first rose bush on the tub-table, I evaluated the shrub to determine where to make my slanted cuts. My first cuts were to eliminate a few pieces of dead wood. After that, I removed one of the older/larger trunks completely, making my cut at the base of the wood. (That reduced the size of the plant by several inches and opened up the center of to allow air and sunlight to penetrate.) Noticing several spindly branches, I removed them as well. In places where two limbs grew toward the center of the plant, rubbing together or crossing, I removed the less viable of the two branches, making my cuts as near to the base of each limb as possible. Because all of these rose plants will have slightly more than a month to put on new foliage and develop flower buds before our sale, I decided to prune them less drastically than I would in my own landscape. Therefore, I reduced each remaining branch on the shrub by about half its original length. To reduce the height of each of rose cane, I searched for a growth joint about halfway up, with a growth bud directly above the joint, pointing toward the outside of the plant. That is where I made each of my slanted cuts — just above an outward-facing growth bud. One by one, I performed the same procedure, until all the rose bushes were pruned and ready for the annual sale. After pruning each plant, I removed all the weeds, fallen leaves and other plant debris that had invaded the containers since the roses were re-potted and fertilized. Carol (Bonnie) Link is a Master Gardener from Etowah County, Ala., and an experienced garden writer. Her weekly column is designed to help and encourage others in their gardening endeavors. Send questions or comments to [email protected]. By Carol Link More Content Now MailTribune.com By Carol Link More Content Now Posted Apr. 2, 2015 at 7:59 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501