Roses are red…

People say roses are about the easiest flower you can grow.  I used to think those people were delusional.  I never had the kind of success others did and always figured it must be my soil, my brown thumb, my roses themselves, etc.  Today I would agree that roses are pretty darn easy but it’s taken me many, many years to come to that side of thinking.

The other day I talked about the importance of watering your garden.  Another thing I’ve learned over the years is that you must cut back your roses.  I know, I know everyone knows that, right?  It’s not that I didn’t know it; I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.  You see, I’d look at the beautiful roses and wonder why on earth would I cut it back?  They were so pretty.  If I cut them for vases, the bush would be bare.  Who wants that?  What if it doesn’t grow back?  What if I don’t get any more blooms?  What if I kill it altogether?  I was haunted by the what ifs… so I did what I always did.  Nothing.

I was told repeatedly the only way for them for flourish was to cut them back.  But did I listen?  No.  For years and years I did it my way and you know what I got?  Rose bushes that didn’t thrive.  Want more proof of my insane stubbornness?  Right outside my office is the most incredible rose garden.  We have approximately 1,000 rose bushes and 50 or so rose trees in as many different varieties as you can imagine.  We even cultivate our own varieties.  Suffice it to say, we’re no novices.

Every week I watch the groundskeepers cut the roses, and I usually walk over to take a few stems to put in a vase to brighten up my office.

Every February I watch them cut them back to about a foot tall.  Because we all know the first rule of rose care is pruning.  But was I practicing it at home?  Still no.

It wasn’t until a few years ago that I finally bit the bullet and thought I’d see what all the fuss was about. I was willing to sacrifice every rose bush in my yard in case this newfangled idea fell flat when I practiced it.  And then, just like magic my roses bloomed!  And not only did they bloom, they were plentiful.  Huh, must’ve been some kind of miracle.  Amazing what kind of magic happens in my yard when I take the advice of experts.  Maybe they’re on to something…

Today, I have about a dozen different varieties of roses in my yard.  I cut them back heavily each new year and continue to cut them throughout the year.  It still pains me to cut back something that’s growing and seems to be doing beautifully.  I have to remind myself that the rose wants me to cut it.  It needs me to cut it.  Sometimes it’s begging me to cut it.

I’m cheating it (and me) if I don’t.  Feeding it, watering it and giving it sunshine are just not enough.  Every once in a while it needs a good haircut just like I do.  Now when I go outside if I look close enough sometimes I think I see them smiling at me.  Maybe it’s just me.  Maybe it’s just a little of that garden magic.  Either way, I’m smiling too.

Tags: Gardening, pruning, Roses