Pruning season is in full swing.

Pruning is important to encourage new growth and protect against pests. The first step is buying a pruner that feels good in your hands—because you’re going to be using it often.

Buying the Right Pruner

There are two basic types of pruners: bypass or scissors and anvil. Like the name says, the bypass pruners have a blade that crosses the stationary blade when it cuts. It is just like a scissors’ action. The anvil pruners on the other hand have a blade that cuts against the flat surface of the stationary blade. This action tends to crush the tender rose canes so anvil pruners are not as desirable as the bypass pruners for pruning roses.

Pruners can generally handle canes up to about a half inch in diameter. Canes larger than that usually need a pair of loppers to cut them. Again look for the bypass action and a handle length that is good for you.

The Elmer’s Glue Trick

Have you ever looked at the ends of your canes and a small hole drilled in them? These holes are created by the cane borers that drill down the cane and lay their eggs. This, of course, kills the cane as far as the drilling goes and some of these holes can be quite deep.

The solution is really easy. When I’m pruning, I carry a small bottle of Elmers glue with me. After I finish pruning a bush, I put a drop of glue on the cut ends. Once it dries it makes a hard surface that deters the borers. Some people try to put glue on each time they prune. I have found that doing this when spring pruning protects bushes from most of the damage.

Pruning Climbers and One-Time Bloomers

Climbers bloom on year-old growth. So the canes that grew last year will produce this year’s blooms. By the way, the canes of climbers should be tied horizontally against a fence or trellis. Canes tied this way tend to produce more blooms. Now don’t prune out more than dead wood at this time. Wait until the rose has bloomed to do more pruning, otherwise you risk losing a lot of your blooms.

The same thing holds true for many of the Old Garden Roses that just bloom once. Wait to do your pruning until after the blooms. This is usually late June or early July.