Don't mistake winter pruning of roses in Arizona with what you may have been familiar with in colder climates farther north.
Winter pruning here doesn't involve severe pruning to remove heavily frozen canes. Our pruning is more a fine-tuning.
The first step is to eliminate crowding of the rosebush's interior. New cane growth can be so vigorous that, over time, the crown of the plant becomes choked and in need of thinning. Using long-handled pruning loppers, reach into the center of the plant and begin pruning out the smallest canes. Prune them off as close as possible to the plant base. Old, nonproductive canes should also be removed.
After thinning, you should be left with four to eight vigorous canes that are thumb-size or larger in diameter. If your bushes are young, the canes might not be quite as thick or numerous.
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On mature rosebushes, the oldest canes will be a gray color and several inches across. The most vigorous canes will be somewhat younger, not quite as thick and have a reddish-green stem color. Try to keep a balance of old, vigorous and young (green) canes.
The next step is to prune all canes back to a height of 18 to 24 inches above the base of the bush. Each cane should be pruned back to an outward facing shoot or dormant bud. Shoots will be obvious, but dormant buds are harder to see. They're located at the base of leaf petiole. So cutting just above an outward-facing leaf will ensure that, when the bud breaks dormancy, the new shoot will grow out and away from the center of the bush.
Directing growth outward is very important. The more light that penetrates into the center of the rose bush, the more flowers the plant will produce. So, try to eliminate any inward-growing shoots, stems or canes. Over time, with proper pruning a standard rose can become very large and wide. Keep this in mind when planting new rosebushes. Allow for a minimum 3-foot spread per bush.
Pruned roses require that the cuts be sealed. This prevents cane borers (various beetle larvae) from penetrating into and down the cut stem. The best and easiest way to seal the cut ends is to dab on some Elmer's glue. Apply glue to all cuts one-half inch or greater in diameter.
In addition to pruning, this is also the time of year to plant new bare-root rosebushes, which are available at local garden stores. Plant them as soon as possible. Roses grow very well in containers and raised beds. If you are preparing a bed for planting in the ground, mix in lots of organic matter prior to planting. After planting, keep the soil moist to encourage new root growth.
Gardening
Advice by John P. Begeman
Photos by Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star