Remove Old Foliage From Rose Plants When You Prune

With El Nin~o threatening an unusually wet winter and spring, be extra careful to remove all old foliage from your rose plants when you prune them.

Old rose leaves protect disease organisms that later revive and thrive in damp conditions, initiating earlier and more damaging infection of new spring foliage. This simple preventive measure--removing all the leaves from plants as you prune them, and cleaning away all rose-leaf debris from the ground--will be a great help in reducing that possible El Nin~o-related threat.

For an easy-to-follow guide on the proper techniques for pruning your roses and caring for them during the year, order the 30-minute video “The Pruning and Care of Your Roses.” Send a check or money order for $18.99 to Jack E. Christensen, P.O. Box 1231-T, Ontario, CA 91762. Now available in English or Spanish. Please specify language preference. Allow two weeks for delivery.