Rose Pruning 

Winter is the time to prune and protect your roses* in preparation for getting the best display from them this summer. June or July is generally the preferred months but some folk will prune in August, it all depends on where you live in the country.

First, spray your roses with Organic Super Sulphur. This is a curative and preventative fungicide that will help reduce the risk of infecting your roses when it comes to the pruning operation (See Spraying to Protect Roses). Organic Super Sulphur is BioGro certified organic; it has no offensive odours has no withholding period, can be used all year round and is suitable for use on Roses, Fruit trees, Citrus, Vines and Ornamentals.

Prune your roses about 1 week after treating with Organic Super Sulphur. Use sharp and clean secateurs to prevent damage to the roses and reduce the risk of transferring disease. Do not leave a ragged stem end which would be prone to infection.

Pruning your roses encourages new growth, removes old woody stems that would be prone to disease and lets you shape your roses for the best display.

Cut just above an outward-facing bud to encourage the plant to grow into an open shape. If the cut is too far above a shoot the stem above the bud will die back and there is an increased risk of disease. Slope cuts away from the bud, allowing rainwater runoff away from the bud; but not too steep and angle, 20-30° is good.

Prune about half of the height off the bush. Try to cut to an outside facing bud as the new growth will grow up & outwards, helping to develop an open, airy rose bush. 

Hybrid Tea and Floribunda roses benefit most from pruning but all roses should be checked over and dead or diseased stems removed.

Protect your roses, trees and shrubs with the Kiwicare Organic Winter Spray Program.

About 1-2 weeks after the pruning, spray the roses with PLANThealth Copper Fungicide Liquid and Organic Super Spraying Oil. Organic Super Sulphur can bee applied again 4 weeks later.

This BioGro certified product protects the rose from insects and disease as it prepares for the new season's growth. Controls: San Jose Scale, Thrips, Needle Blight, Citrus Red Mite, Aphids, European Red Mite.

*Modern climbers need pruning in winter but ramblers are different and need to be pruned during summer.

David Brittain
Kiwicare