Gardening enthusiasts know the last week of July is normally rose-trimming season, but with the bizarre weather Randfontein has experienced the last few days, experts have halted their rose pruning.
Joyce Heyns, owner of Rosetta Nursery and gardener for over 20 years says she is keeping her rosebushes covered with anti-frost netting until the middle of August.
“If I open them now and the air is too cold, they might sustain quite a lot of damage,” Joyce said.
She says the seasons have changed so much over the years that it is unwise to trim roses now, given the bitterly cold weather between 25 and 27 July, and the predictions that next week will also be extremely cold reinforce her statement.
Rosebushes are normally pruned to make way for more vigorous young branches. New branches which grow quicker than older branches are able to carry more weight; therefore larger roses will be produced. Local weather patterns are good pointers to follow when aiming to prune your rosebushes. Pruning should take place only when the air starts to warm up.
Always remember – pruning encourages sprouting, even in low temperatures. Sprouts are tender and die during even the slightest late winter frost. Roses should not be induced to sprout unless the weather is warm enough to sustain new sprouts.
Late pruning can delay flowering by one or two weeks, but the wait is worth it considering the rosebush will be able to live through cold weather.
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