Rose Pruning: Tools and Protective Clothing
GardenZeus receives commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Annual rose pruning, and even monthly deadheading and clean up, can be a big job. And while careful rose pruning is important in maximizing the growth and bloom of your roses, pruning needs to be done carefully, both with respect to your plants and your arms! Selecting your tools will make your pruning job easier, and your protective clothing will minimize injury.
GardenZeus recommends thoughtful selection of protective clothing for pruning roses, which at minimum should include eye protection, sturdy gloves, and long pants and sleeves. Little thorn scratches add up and can be surprisingly painful. Even thick fabric and long sleeves aren’t quite enough to prevent thorn pricks, as many fabrics tear more easily than you might expect when caught accidentally on a thorn. The condition of many gardeners’ hands and arms after a pruning session may leave them wondering which lost more flesh, the rose or the gardener!
Start by going to your closet and selecting long pants and sleeves. Grab a hat. Then gather your tools.
Pruners.
It’s hard to beat the original Felco 2 pruner, but the Felco 11 does it with a replaceable blade. Few pruners match Felco for ease of use, quality, comfort, and durability. A well-cared-for Felco 11 Pruner can last a lifetime although industrious gardeners may go through a few blades. Use it for everything from pruning roses, citrus trees, stone fruit trees, vines and perennials unless the branches get too large and then use the
Handsaw.
A handsaw takes over where the pruners end. Use a handsaw for stems larger than about half an inch in diameter. A folding handsaw reduces accidental contact and provides for safe storage. Try this high-quality folding handsaw from A. M Leonard.
Gloves.
For extra protection when pruning roses, especially if you have a large number of plants or prune regularly. These leather gloves cover your arms up to your elbows. Select from a range of sizes to fit your hands.
Eye protection.
Get out your sunglasses. For better protection, or if you don’t want to use your sunglasses while working in the garden, use a pair of safety glasses from your garage, such as these Gateway Safety Glasses with wrap-around lenses.
And for extra comfort and convenience but not really essential:
Gardening apron. The Roo Garden Apron is one of our favorite gardening items. It holds your gardening tools AND it has a large pouch for all your cut flowers, harvested lemons and freshly cut lettuce. And it is washable. It comes in a variety of colors. Select one that matches your …
Tubtrug. Of course you can use compostable brown bags, but reusable tubtrugs are more fun. Place your rose clippings in one of these tubtrugs and carry your clippings from rose to rose with ease. Tubtrugs come in different sizes and a variety of colors. Select one that matches ……..the color of your favorite rose!
Knee Pads. If you have a lot of roses to prune, or a lot of gardening work to do, your knees can get sore and wet. These light weight waterproof knee pads may be just the thing you need. GardenZeus prefers knee pads to gardening pads; knee pads don’t have to be re-positioned every time you move.
Roses are generally an excellent choice for gardens in metropolitan California: When properly selected, they are relatively disease free and, once established, drought tolerant. For complete instructions for growing roses in your specific area, go to GardenZeus and enter your zip code, then go to rose.
This is an updated version of an article originally published on January 17, 2018.
Other articles of interest: