Showerthought: Pruning guides made my roses suffer last season

I always heard that cutting plants back helps them grow better. After using a popular pruning method on my roses, they had very few flowers. Now I just let them be, and they look amazing. Maybe we trust these steps too much without seeing what plants really need. Have you tried going against common pruning tips?

3 comments

3 Comments

kim_martin2mo agoTop Commenter

You cut them at the wrong time?! I've heard that messing up the timing can wreck the flower buds for the whole year. Those step-by-step rules don't always know what's happening in your own garden.

simon_johnson342mo ago

Step-by-step rules? @kim_martin, they're basically gardening horoscopes.

blake_cooper1mo ago

Wait, isn't it only next year's flowers you risk? I thought most plants set buds on new growth after you prune. So a bad cut now might mean no blooms this summer, but the plant should try again next year. Those rules can be too strict, but the basic idea is just to avoid cutting off the buds right before they open.