Question
I am zone 8 central SC.  How do I get my H-T roses to send up some basal canes?  I was told add Epson salts, which didn't work. I have had some bad luck with roses planted too deep (buried) grafts, and they have died back to one lone cane and I would like to get more "bush".  On the other hand, some of my healthy roses have really gotten thick canes (1+" diam.) and near a walk they can snag you.  Can I cut these huge canes back to the base or where?  I have already pruned my roses back for the spring, since they are leafing out with our warm weather.  Is it too late for the lg. canes?  Thanks, Mary

Answer
Roses are like human beings as they have their own way of growing. Some make nice basal canes and other put up a few basal canes and then make more growth off those. Giving a rose Epson Salts will only encourage those that make basals. It will not effect the other types. Also if your soil is not on the acid side, then Epson Salts (magnesium sulphate) could change the PH and actually damage the rose bush. 2 tablespoons of Epson Salts disolved in water, is all a rose should get per season, and preferable in the spring when they are leafing out.
You can prune a rose anytime but they always suggest to do it before the rose starts to grow. However it won't hurt the rose if you cut back the thick canes. This of course will activate them into making a bigger and better canes! If you don't want the cane catching legs as people walk by, then you will have to cut the canes right down to the base so it won't grow again. Cutting a rose in the spring always causes more vigor in the bush and that is why you do it when they start to grow. If you do it (and you can) prune a rose say in the middle of summer, you will just have cut off the flowers and will have to wait longer until it makes more canes to bloom again.
The way to get a thicker bush is to cut the rose right down to the third bud eye (about 3 inches from the ground) and this will push bigger and better canes out. Drastic but it works.
Roses have never died from being cut, they have died from not being pruned as they make old wood quickly and the secret to healthy long lived roses is to force them to make new growth every year and you do this by pruing them.
Hope this helps. Lynnette