Re: Wintering/Pruning David Austin's

**"rosenlund" rosenlund@transport.com>**

Hi Brenda,

So, you've been "bitten" by the old fashion looking roses. :-)

It's EASY to be confused about pruning roses as there are MANY different
pruning ideas.  As far as your Austin (English) roses, they are pruned it an
"average" fashion.  Here what I would do:

Prune lightly in the fall, just to keep the wind damage down, trim off any
long canes or tiny worthless canes or damaged canes.  Just tidy up the shrub
some.  Sounds like your roses are getting too dry for winter, you may want
to water them well as they go into winter. YES, protection of mulch piles
about them will also help.

Then come Spring, just as your warming up and leaf buds are starting to
form, you may then prune in earnest.  Some reduce their roses to a foot
tall, keeping just 5-6 canes.   Some just remove any damage, open the center
some, remove worthless little canes (as I usually do) and I prune mine to
about 2-3 feet.

 > Second question:

Usually I just let these guys bloom, then after they bloom I dead-head
hard... to the height of the of the bush.  Sometimes they are so silly
looking, I prune them before they open.  Often I can see a rose ('Graham
Thomas' like to do this) sending up a tall thick cane and I prune it back to
height before it sets buds.  Often it sends this energy into more canes that
are proportionate.

Hope that helps...

           ~ Carleen ~
Keeper of Sheep & Old Roses

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