Attention Points for Pruning Chinese Roses in Autumn
Do you know about these? Here are the specific details regarding the timing of pruning Chinese roses in autumn:
It's the beginning of autumn. Can we prune Chinese roses now? Not so fast, the timing for pruning Chinese roses in autumn varies by region. If pruned too early, not only will the new branches produce ugly flowers, but it can also easily lead to the wilting of the roses.
Timing for Pruning Chinese Roses in Autumn
Generally speaking, the timing for pruning Chinese roses in autumn is from the end of August to the beginning of September, but there are differences in various regions. For example, in the cold northern regions, autumn comes earlier, usually in mid-August, with the highest temperature around 30 degrees Celsius. Therefore, in the northern regions, we can prune a bit earlier, around August 15th. After pruning, the first batch of flowers will bloom around the National Day.
In the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai areas, pruning usually takes place at the end of August and the beginning of September. Further south in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian, pruning is generally done at the end of September. If you're unsure about the timing for pruning Chinese roses in autumn, you can check the weather forecast. If the high temperature persists around 30 degrees Celsius, it's time to prune. The book "How to Grow Chinese Roses from Scratch" has detailed information about autumn pruning, which you can refer to. Today, I'll briefly discuss the precautions for pruning Chinese roses in three different states.
Precautions for Pruning Chinese Roses in Autumn
This summer was particularly hot. I believe many rose enthusiasts have been in a state of neglect, with black spots, bare stems, and stunted growth being quite common. How should these unhealthy plants be pruned?
1 - completely bare Chinese roses
If the rose plant is completely bare without leaves, it's recommended not to prune in autumn. Wait until the temperature cools down a bit, then supplement with some fertilizer and water to allow the branches to store some nutrients. After new buds grow, continue to strengthen fertilization and watering. Pinch off the flower buds to prevent blooming, utilizing the autumn growth of the roses to accumulate some nutrients. After winter dormancy, pruning will be easier, and the plants will be more robust in the spring.
2 - Chinese roses with a few leaves at the top
Precautions for Pruning Chinese Roses in Autumn
If the rose plant has lost most of its leaves due to black spot disease, drought, heat stroke, or other reasons, and only has a few leaves at the top of the branches, during autumn pruning, just cut off the weak and withered branches, remove the remaining flowers and buds at the top of the branches, keep all the leaves, and then strengthen fertilization and watering to promote the germination of new buds.
The leaves of Chinese roses are very valuable for their growth. Only with enough leaves can they perform photosynthesis to produce nutrients. If the leaves are gone, the photosynthetic capacity decreases, and the roses will become weaker. Therefore, for weak plants, it's important to protect the leaves.
3 - Chinese roses with leaves but continue to be stunted
If most of the leaves of the rose are retained, but no new buds are growing, and it's completely in a stunted state, it's necessary to first figure out the cause of the stunted growth.
The reasons for stunted growth of Chinese roses may include calcium deficiency leading to rot in the heart, damage to new buds by thrips, or weakness caused by spider mites. Of course, when the weather is too hot, many shrub roses may enter dormancy.
Therefore, for stunted roses, if it's due to a lack of fertilizer, you should first supplement with fertilizer. If it's due to pests and diseases, treatment should be prioritized. After fungicide and pest control, the roses will resume growth. If it's because of excessive heat and the plant has entered dormancy, we can lightly prune it and then place it in a shady area for a few days to break its dormancy.
Note that for stunted roses, since there's been no growth for a long time, the vitality of the branches has decreased. Light pruning should be done to create wounds to promote the flow of sap and activate the plant's vitality. Of course,活力素 (vitality enhancer) can also be used.
But regardless of the state of the rose plant, after autumn pruning, it's necessary to prevent and control thrips to avoid the new buds being eaten.
The above is an introduction to the timing and precautions for pruning Chinese roses in autumn from [www.lvzhimi.com], which can be used as a reference.