http://home.comcast.net/~bruce.musgrove/All-roses.jpg


Need a little help trimming the McCartney on the left. This was taken A
couple of months ago, and it has since grown about a foot taller (close to 7
feet) and dense enough you can't see through it. I am waffling between
carefully trimming it (paying special attention to the center and crossing
branches ;) and just taking a shrub trimmer and whacking it off at about 3
feet high, and then clearing the center.

Admittedly, part of my waffling is it has a zillion buds on it and it is so
pretty when it blooms! If it was tall and leggy like the queen Elizabeth,
the answer would be obvious...


Opinions' are welcome. I am sure I could just whack and watch it come back.
It is a prolific grower.

http://home.comcast.net/~bruce.musgrove/All-roses.jpg

Need a little help trimming the McCartney on the left. This was taken A
couple of months ago, and it has since grown about a foot taller (close to 7
feet) and dense enough you can't see through it. I am waffling between
carefully trimming it (paying special attention to the center and crossing
branches ;) and just taking a shrub trimmer and whacking it off at about 3
feet high, and then clearing the center.

Admittedly, part of my waffling is it has a zillion buds on it and it is so
pretty when it blooms! If it was tall and leggy like the queen Elizabeth,
the answer would be obvious...Whack and run before it explodes.....

Opinions' are welcome. I am sure I could just whack and watch it come back.
It is a prolific grower.

I relaize it is a little late to prune, but in Central Texas, the darn
things never go dormant, and this is the first time I have physically been
able to get out and work on them......

"Bruce Musgrove" <blackhole26removeme [at] comcast.net> wrote in message
news:C-CdnSxuaf4X6K3ZnZ2dnUVZ_smdnZ2d [at] giganews.com...
> http://home.comcast.net/~bruce.musgrove/All-roses.jpg
>
> Need a little help trimming the McCartney on the left. This was taken A
> couple of months ago, and it has since grown about a foot taller (close to
> 7
> feet) and dense enough you can't see through it. I am waffling between
> carefully trimming it (paying special attention to the center and crossing
> branches ;) and just taking a shrub trimmer and whacking it off at about 3
> feet high, and then clearing the center.
>
> Admittedly, part of my waffling is it has a zillion buds on it and it is
> so
> pretty when it blooms! If it was tall and leggy like the queen Elizabeth,
> the answer would be obvious...Whack and run before it explodes.....
>
> Opinions' are welcome. I am sure I could just whack and watch it come
> back.
> It is a prolific grower.
>
> I relaize it is a little late to prune, but in Central Texas, the darn
> things never go dormant, and this is the first time I have physically been
> able to get out and work on them......

You think that's bad? You should see some of
my Teas! :)

General pruning guidelines:
(1) cut down as far as needed any obviously
dead canes
(2) cut out canes crossing the center of the
bush and/or brushing against other canes
and causing wounds

I routinely "paint" white (school) glue on
the tips of any canes pencil sized or larger.

Other pruning guidelines are based on climate
and personal preference. I personally would
NOT hard prune (down to about 2' above ground)
any rose that's already well into spring blooming.
The time to do that kind of pruning is early spring,
when most new growth hasn't yet started following
winter. Like you, I'm in an area where my roses
seldom go dormant, but they do slow down.

I highly recommend buying a basic rose book,
like Ortho's All About Roses. They're cheap,
have lots of illustrations, and are available at
bookstores, nurseries, home improvement
stores (e.g. Home Depot) and, of course,
amazon.com.

I also like The Rose Expert by D. G. Hessayon.
It's English, so some advice (chemicals) won't
apply in the USA, but the basic stuff is applicable
and very clearly presented in a small book.
Both the old and new editions remain available.

Gail
near San Antonio TX Zone 8

They don't look to big to me! I say wait till next spring. Follow
Gail's advice about dead and crossing canes otherwise just go a little
deeper on deadheading if you want to reduce bush size.
Joe T
Houston