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Wednesday - January 20, 2016

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Pruning, Shrubs
Title: Pruning a Martha Gonzales rose
Answered by: Guy Thompson

QUESTION:

How much should I prune back an established Martha Gonzales Rose to keep healthy?

ANSWER:

The Martha Gonzales rose is a compact rose that was found by "rose rustlers" at the Texas home of Martha Gonzales, now deceased.  It is often used as a hedge rose.  As such, it is regularly pruned back quite freely.  I think you can prune it with hedge clippers to suit your needs and not worry about damaging it.  Proabably at least one annual pruning, in the spring, would be good to keep it from getting too twiggy.

 

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