pruning

[smokur]

can I hard prune my hybrids in the spring NJ??

[The Helpful Gardener]

What's hard to you may not be hard to me; I would prune back to the last out-facing bud on every cane (That's my version of hard pruning). Make sure it's a bud above the graft union. That's for hybrid teas that have been let go a bit. If you have been pruning regularly and the canes are well separated and balanced leaving a foot or so of cane will give you a fuller plant.

Bust out the Felco's; it's pruning time!

Scott

[smokur]

thanks- 1st time i let them go all winter- with no previous fall prun- will cut them hard see what happenes-all look very healthy thanks again

[The Helpful Gardener]

Yeah, you can get away with that once in spring pruning, but I like a fall pruning to 18" or so and then the harder prune in spring. But this should work out for you without incident...