Trim rose now to remove ice damage, but wait to prune

Q: With that recent burst of wet weather we had here on the east side of the mountain, we had an ice patch slide off the roof and land on our climbing rose. As I was inspecting it, I found two canes that were broken badly. I think I should cut them back to good wood, right? — R.M., Edgewood

A: You are absolutely correct that you should eliminate the damage done to the roses.

Follow the cane down to, as you say, good wood and cut below the damage. But that’s all you should do now. It’s far too early to prune roses.

Watch for continuing ice damage to the rose as the season goes on, but promise that when you’re done eliminating this damage, you stop, put down the pruners and wait until later if there is more actual pruning that will be done. It’s far too early to be pruning roses anywhere in these parts.

Q: Last week, you mentioned applying a garlic powder-based spray to kill aphids on roses. You said you’d do more investigating and I was wondering if you have found a recipe to use yet? — M.C., Albuquerque

A: I did do some reading, but none of the information I found had a “recipe” for garlic powder.

One reference book I have does suggest planting garlic really close to roses, as the aphids could be a bit repelled that way.

Another suggested mashing two clove pieces and steeping them in a quart of warm water overnight. Then straining the water to remove any garlic pieces and applying that to the roses using a handheld spray bottle. That way you can be very exacting as to where you’d be spraying, aiming at the aphids only.

Remember that the garlic spray isn’t selective. Meaning, it can harm beneficial insects as well as the bad ones. I doubt that you are having much trouble with aphids this time of year. Just remember this concoction so you can do selective battle as the growing season comes on.

Q: I grew up with four really large lilac bushes in our yard. Here at my home now I don’t have a lot of room, but would really enjoy another lilac bush. Is there such a thing as a dwarf type of lilac that I could make fit in my garden? — M.L., Albuquerque

A: You are in luck! Well, sort of.

There are dwarf varieties of lilac. When looking at the nurseries or shopping online, you’ll be looking for Korean lilacs. The most common name is Miss Kim. Sometimes you can find Korean lilacs that will bloom pink, lavender and the typical lavender-blue that is associated with the shrub lilac.

Know that even though they are defined as dwarf, they will require a space of no less than 5 by 5 feet. Remember that lilacs grow best in spots that offer great air circulation. Tucked up against a wall isn’t where you’d want to place one of these gems, ever.

Check with our nurseries to see if they’ll be bringing in any of these charmers so you could maybe reserve one. Soon the shrubbery will start to land at the nurseries and in the garden centers, but don’t be in too much of a hurry to plant. January is our coldest month, and that chilly weather has been known to roll into early February too.

Happy Diggin’ In while you’re dreaming of the landscaping you plan on making!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.