Question
QUESTION: I have a 3 year old Lady Banks Yellow Rose -- the first year I had a fair amount of blooms...mulched well the first winter with organic matter and bone meal...2nd year...COVERED in blooms so you could hardly see a green leaf.  Still didn't prune it...now its 3rd year it was over 12 feet tall but hardly bloomed at all. I know I need to prune it as it will only bloom on new canes?  but do I cut it all the way back?  Or how do I identify what canes to cut back?  I am in Rural South Carolina not too close to the coast though.  We will have our first freeze soon.

ANSWER: Lady Banks can really get out of hand and grow like a large drunken spider. It usually starts out making lots of blooms and then starts making lots of growth at the expense of blooming. You are right it needs to be cut back so it will have the energy to make more flowers. If you think the rose would go through the winter without any dieback, then prune it now but if you feel it may be too tender, then I would wait until next spring and then cut it right back to where you want it . Hope this helps.

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QUESTION: So do I just prune the entire bushes down to a level of say 2 feet high or do I pick and choose canes that are older? and if so how do I identify the older canes or which ones to cut down?

ANSWER: Sorry for the confusion. I have a tendency to make pruning easy especially when I have pruned a couple of hundred roses! If you want to prune for flowers then as you have said, you leave the last years growth. Usually the difference between the newer and older canes is the colour.  With the banksias the new growth should be a brighter lime green. The general rule for once blooming shrubs is to prune right after they have finished flowering and will be setting next years flower buds. That way it makes it easier to see what you are doing. I had suggested a couple of feet because although you will not see as many flowers, if any, it is one way to keep it under control if it has got away on you. If you want it large or at a certain size, then this rose must be pruned during the year also.  Such as during the summer when it makes those fishing rod type canes, simply cut them back. This rose is known as a Tombstone rose which means nothing, weather, wind, lack of water or humans will kill it. It also is easy to make more Lady Banks as the cuttings strike easily.

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QUESTION: That was a very helpful answer!!!  Thank you -- and you said at the end the cuttings strike easily -- I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE to propagate more of these as we live on 130 WILD acres and I want to put them all along our entrance way fence -- I need about 20 bushes.  I paid nearly 20$ for each of these 2 I have -- I even have a lovely brand new greenhouse :))) whoohoo! Now how would I go about propogating them -- I have tried by cutting and putting in moist soil but never have a bit of luck:((  If you could give me step by step on propagating this bush I would be a happy gardener :)  Thank you so much for your help and time.


Answer
The spring and fall months are the best times to propagate Old Garden Roses. Cuttings are prepared by removing an 8 inch section of a stem right under a rose when it has finish blooming this year. You should have at least four budeyes, two for under the soil and two above. Remove the leaves from the two bottom budeyes and leave the top two leaves on. Use a liquid not powder as this can plug the base  of the cane up, and insert the cuttings until the last two set of leaves are resting on the soil. Use mainly the smaller size of vermiculite as this will be sterile and not cause any problems with bacteria, in a quart container. Wet down the mixture. Make a couple of vertical slits in the base of the rose cane. Make a hole with a pencil and carefully insert the cutting firming the soil around it. Cut the base off a large pop bottle and place over the cutting, screwing the top back on. Place out side or in a cool place, as roses will make roots best when the temperature is between 40?and 60'.  When you see leaves forming take the bottle off during the night and replace during the day. Finally when the plant is starting to really grow take the bottle right off. Fertilize using a half strength house plant type like Schultz. If the rose has a good vigour then you will be successful but if it lacks vigour you may have problems so don't blame yourself if it won't take.