Keep it Rosy

Roses are February’s favorite flower; you’ll be seeing them all over for the next few weeks. February is also prime pruning time for roses, but how do you do it?

First, take some safety precautions. Wear some thick gardening gloves to protect your hands from thorns, and if you’re really going to town some eye protection might be in order. You’ll also need some sharp sterilized pruning shears.Once you have geared up, examine your rose bush. Take note of the dead, diseased, or injured cane and remove them. If you have several rose bushes, sanitize your shears between plants. Throughout the blooming season you can deadhead, or remove dead flowers to encourage new flowers to grow.Want to learn more? Dr. Peter Schaar will share the secret to perfect roses during our annual rose care workshop, Keep it Rosy, on Saturday, February 10. Participants will get to take some a rose plant.