Learn How To Prune Roses Before Spring Blooms At The El Paso Rose Garden

I'm an amateur gardener. I like to think that I can grow things, but really, I buy plants, put them in the ground or in a pot in my yard and then hope for the best. When I bought my house years ago, there was a scraggly rose bush that looked like it was on the way out. It had no shape to it, the roses were sad and fell apart after a few days. The branches were way too long and to be honest, I really thought my best bet would be to dig the dang thing out of the ground. I'm glad I didn't.

I went to a rose pruning and care class that turned that rose bush around. Coral colored roses now fill it's sturdy branches and it blooms almost year round. You can learn how to either bring a fading rose bush back to life or start a rose bush garden by going to the Parks and Recreation Department's free rose pruning demonstration this weekend.

The class is from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 1, at the El Paso Rose Garden, 1702 N. Copia.

A number of rose experts including the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, El Paso Master Gardeners, and the El Paso Rose Society will have hands-on demonstrations of pruning techniques for hybrid teas, grandiflora, floribunda, and other rose varieties. They will also give you tips on rose maintenance and care.

You can get more information on the pruning demonstration by calling the Master Gardener Help desk at (915) 771-2354 or go to the El Paso Parks and Recreation Department website by clicking here