Q.Over-pruned Roses?
Recently, a hired yard worker mistakenly began cutting out my heirloom rose bush. I caught him, but not before he’d cut out about a third of the growth at anywhere from knee to ankle length. This rose bush is an old type that came from my great grandmother, it flowers once a year in the spring and is about six feet tall and maybe five feet across at it’s widest. As the yard worker was “cutting it out” instead of pruning, the cuts were made with no special care. I am worried that the plant is going to die as it is october and the bush is in the process of dropping leaves and going dormant. Will the bush live? Is there any way I can take the cut canes and root them overwint just in case? This bush has been in my family, handed down via starts for generations and is extremely important. Thank you for your help.
You can probably take cuttings and propagate the plant that way. The roots were not affected so it may survive. However, do not try feeding it anything but water now. The pruning may trigger new growth that will get zapped by winter temperatures. I suggest discussing this problem with your future yard workers, including researching how to block access to this shrub so they do not accidentally repeat the late hard pruning of this rose.
https://www.rose.org/single-post/suggested-pruning-techniques-for-old-fashioned-roses
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/roses/roses-from-cuttings.htm
