It’s the holidays, and we are all distracted by family and events. It helps we don’t need to do much with the roses. However, you should get your tools ready for pruning season next month.
While we may wait until January to defoliate our plants and remove the dead and diseased canes, we need to check our gardening tools and ensure they are ready when called on. After you gather the necessary tools, it is time to clean and sharpen them so they can make your job easier by making cleaner cuts and helping prevent any diseases that might affect your roses.
Why Do We Prune Our Roses?
A fair question may be, why do we prune our roses in the first place? It seems like a lot of work, and in Arizona, we’re doing it while there are still blooms on the shrub. I know I have asked myself that question when I see all the roses I need to work on and it’s cold outside.
Pruning allows us to remove all the dead or unproductive wood on our plants. It also allows us to remove the diseased wood on the rose that can suck the vigor out of a plant. By removing the damaged parts of the plant, we allow the plant to push new growth to the healthiest canes. When we prune our roses, we promote the plant’s vigor and are rewarded with more beautiful blooms in the spring.
I’ll write more about “How to Prune” later this month when we get serious about next season. Now is a good idea to take an inventory of your tools and prepare them before January. I am sure my collection of tools resembles yours, but I want to mention a few that I believe are important.
We Love Our Tools
After plants, I think tools are a gardener’s second favorite purchase. I know how much time I spend looking at the shiny tools at the nursery or hardware store. It’s not just because I love gadgetry but because good gardening tools make gardening much easier. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to do some trimming with secateurs that aren’t sharp or trying to weed with a tool that won’t do the job. If we’re going to spend money on quality equipment, then it’s important we get our tools ready for pruning.
Bypass pruners (Secateurs)
These will be your primary pruning tool. Secateurs are used to make clean cuts on smaller branches and suckers. The bypass blades overlap, which helps prevent crushing or damaging the living end of the cane. Ensuring you have a sharp blade on your bypass pruners will help minimize the chance of disease getting a foothold on the cane.
Felco F-2 bypass pruners are a popular choice for many rosarians (F-9 pruners if you’re left-handed like me). Felcos are an excellent investment for anyone wanting to grow roses. If you take care of them, they will last you a lifetime.
Loppers
When tackling a mature rose bush, you will appreciate this long-handled tool, which allows you to cut the larger, thicker stems (rule of thumb – over one inch in diameter). It’s a case of having the right tool for the job. Rose canes can become quite large and are challenging with just handheld secateurs. The longer handles on the lopper gives you the extra torque necessary to cut through the thicker canes.
Pruning saw
Some rose canes are too thick for bypass pruners and too crowded for a lopper blade. For this reason, a rose garden tool kit must include a small folding pruning saw. A folding pruning saw is also perfect for cleaning up stubs at the base when loppers can’t get flush with the plant’s crown.
Floral snips or scissors
These are snips that I primarily use to cut off spent flowers during the growing season. I struggled with some of the cheaper snips you can find locally and chose to order an ARS Fruit Pruner to carry around the garden. Great choice. They are made from all metal with a top-quality spring. I’ve had my pair for two seasons and am pleased with how well they work. I treat them the same way I do my Felco bypass pruners.
Gloves
I can’t stress enough the importance of having a good pair of leather gloves. Rose bush branches are covered with thorns, and regular cotton gloves will not provide protection. I am notorious for walking through my garden without protection, and my hands and arms are constantly bleeding or scabbing over. The longer the gloves, the better. Find some leather (or imitation leather) gloves that are long enough to reach near your elbows. If you’re stuck with shorter gloves, wear a jacket or shirt with heavy enough fabric to offer protection. If you’re like me, ensure your tetanus shot is current.
As important as the items above, you should have a trash can, rake, and a tool for pulling weeds from around your roses.
Sharpening
You need more than just owning the right tools; you need to take some time and get your tools ready for pruning. Whether you have a sharpening wheel or a handheld sharpener, remember to use it. Keeping your blades sharp and in good condition will minimize the force needed to cut through a branch. It will also ensure a clean cut and reduce the force required to cut through branches.
Disinfectant
You should use disinfectant regularly on your tool blades, especially if you know you have used your tools on an infected plant. Disinfectant will ensure you don’t spread the disease to the healthy plant you prune next.
The upshot from this is to get you to look in your shed and find your tools. The bonus part is that if you are missing something – it can be a Christmas Gift from your significant other… or maybe you’ll decide to gift a new tool to yourself. No matter if you’ve found an old favorite tool, or acquired a Christmas gift, you need to get your tools ready for pruning season.
Merry Christmas!
Today’s feature picture is of an Always and Forever rose (JACelvet). It doesn’t produce as many blooms as some of my other roses, but when they do happen, they are beautiful. To see more of my roses, take a look at my Instagram pictures.
