Rose experts please. I have a rose bush which at this time of year, grows one or two extremely tall arms?

straight up about 3-4'. What is THAT about. Is that the branch that will produce a rose perhaps. You can tell, I am new at this.


I think last year I may have cut them off so the bush would look more balance.

Rose experts please. I have a rose bush which at this time of year, grows one or two extremely tall arms?
Yes, Tom is correct. That is what my mother called a sucker branch. You should not let them grow. Cut them off down as far as you can. They are called suckers because they suck the life out of the rest of the plant. Watch for them to come back also. Once you get them they will return again. Just keep pruning.
Reply:I agree with the first two posters - you can just remove those canes completely. They're suckers, and all they really do is sap strength from the main plant.
Reply:You might have a climbing variety, which naturally sends out long stems. Or you could have a variety like Mr, Lincoln (large red blooms ) which also tends to send up long stems, especially if it is in the shade. Find out which variety you have. Also, look where the stem attaches to the main stem. If it is from below the graft it could be a break from the root stalk and should be cut off. The flower from the root stalk looks different than the top-growth and commonly has a simple red blossom and different leaves. Get someone from a local rose society or nursery to check it out.
Reply:Those are sucker branches and should be cut off completely.
Reply:Knowing that you don't know what kind of rose you're growing, it's one of two scenarios.





If the rose is a climber, it could be 'normal'. Climbers grow quickly, and don't always bloom off of those tall, long shoots.


One way to be sure is to look at where those stems originate from. If the cane comes from the soil/ root zone, the cane is a sucker and should be cut down to the ground. If they originate from above the graft (a bulbus area at the ground level), then it does belong to the plant, and could produce.





If they are good canes, cut them back by a third, the branching that ocurres might produce flowers.





Give your plants some fertilizer as well... if you don't have a fertilizer you like, try ESPOMA 'rosetone'. It's organic and very good for the roses.





I hope that this helps