My rose bush is spreading out not up. It is 6 mnths old I'm in FL/ May how to prune it?
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If the branches have only leaves and no flower buds then they are sucker branches and need to be cut off for the health of the plant. Cut them down to the level of the rest of the plant.
tie a piece of string on the upper side/head and tie it upward not too tight but a lil so when it grows it grows upward leave it like that until it gets the habbit.
Prune judiciously. I prune every branch that isn't the width of a pencil or more. I cut back constantly. I cut off roses before they make rose hips. It takes a few years to get some height.
Whoa on the pruning or anything else!!
Rose Bushes are exactly that! Some grow as shrubs and others as we traditionally know them (upright). A dollar to doughnuts I will bet yours is a shrub rose.
If you still have the planting tag check for the growth habit of the plant. If you purchased it at a reputable Nursery they will be able to identify the plant you did purchase.
To put it into perspective, a Rhodendron can be a small, mid-sized, large shrub, or a tree. The same is true for all the Rosa family. The Rosa can be a delicate elongated plant, a hardy shrub, a prostrate small plant, or a despicable weed!
The fact that it is not upright in growth would indicate that it is a Shrub Rose of the Meidlander variety. Do not fret. The Up-Right or Hybrid Rose needs more care and attention than any other plant in a garden. A Shrub rose only needs a source of water, fert a couple of times a year, an occasional insect prevention. Less pruning, less feeding, less water, less pest control, less headaches. On the other hand, less clippings to place in a vase.
I am in Philadelphia. The Shrub Rose is my plant of choice since the mid 80's. It will flower, even in this environ, from May to Dec. I once presented my boss with a bouquet of cut roses from our plants on X-mas Eve! I use this plant as much as I can in a design.
If the plant you did purchase was a Hybrid take it back immediately! You will always have a one year warranty. Do not prune not touch the plant aside from carefully removing it from the ground, wrap the root base in newspaper, and demand a replacement or refund. By now any Hybrid would have gone more verticle than horizontal!!
If you have the time I would allow the plant to fulfill it's destiny. A Shrub Rose is a keepsake in it's own right. Fact is that you may wish to either add additional types or make it a centerpiece of your garden. They transplant easily in the early to mid-winter. Surrounded with short ornamental grasses such as Blue Fescue they make a statement.
Hope it helps. I am at gjgjobs@yahoo.com.
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