Rose pruners: what would you do with this awkward cane?

johnnypenstemon

Hi all, one cane on this old shrub rose perennially shoots far higher than the rest and for me this gives the plant an unbalanced, inelegant appearance.

The first pic shows it growing strongly currently; the second shows the plant last summer with, I’m guessing, the same stem flowering far higher than the rest.

Presumably I shouldn’t cut it down to the height of the rest if there is no obvious node (it’s bare stem all the way below the fresh top growth)? Failing that, choices are to cut it down completely asap or leave. Will doing the former harm the plant, or conversely would it put more energy into growing the remaining stems taller, more evenly?

Any thoughts on how to address this much appreciated.

Many thanks, Johnny

edhelka

Cut it back. Still not too late to do it. It will force a new (now dormant) bud to break just under the cut.

johnnypenstemon

edhelka said:

Cut it back. Still not too late to do it. It will force a new (now dormant) bud to break just under the cut.

Thanks edhelka, I’ve cut it down to the height of the surrounding stems. Looks a good deal better and hopefully I’ll have a more pleasingly shaped shrub this summer as a result.