[garddwr]

I need to prune a big old shrub rose for someone and I was wondering although its a bit late and there's buds on it could I use the prunings as hardwood cuttings as taken in autumn/winter ?

[Yorkie]

My instinct is that it probably wouldn't work, as roses are grafted onto rootstocks.  But, nothing ventured ... 

[mumofstig]

You can take hardwood cuttings from old roses, but as you say it's usually done in autumn. You've nothing to lose by trying though  -  can you put them in somewhere shady? it may make the difference 

[garddwr]

You can take hardwood cuttings from old roses, but as you say it's usually done in autumn. You've nothing to lose by trying though  -  can you put them in somewhere shady? it may make the difference 

Yes I should be able to find a shady spot behind somewhere might as well stick them in some compost than throw them away. Does the fact the plant is now in bud reduce the chance of rooting ?

[Paul Plots]

I'd plonk them straight into the ground and leave them for ages.... a year or more maybe.

My mother has a knack with taking cuttings mostly at the wrong time of year.... I guess it's due to the huge number of things she sticks into shady spots that something takes every now and then.

Alwasy worth a try. 

[sarajane]

never done it myself but my aunt regularly takes rose cuttings.  she cuts them about 12 inches long and puts at least 6 inches into the ground, somewhere shady.  Dont think I would use compost though as it will dry out too quickly .  If you are pruning you could try a few.  Nothing to lose.

[Junie]

I only discovered you could take cuttings last autumn, when a neighbour phoned to see if I wanted some pruning offcuts, I stuck them in the ground  ( Can't remember when) covered them with large jam jars and now at least half are shooting out.
My Dad used to grow and show hundreds of roses and was a RNRS judge and I only ever ever saw him bud from stock, never take cuttings.  I researched and it would appear that roses taken from cuttings are not as hardy as those done 'the proper' way, so may ned some winter protection.

I'd find a corner somewhere and give them a go - you've not got much to lose and may gain some new rose bushes!!

[Paul Plots]

It may well work Junie but I think roses are often/sometimes grafted onto different root stocks to give them vigor. Not an expert by any means  but it's a bit of fun so why not give it a go. 

[maxyboo]

I pruned my roses at the end of Autumn and just out of interest cut the prunings up and stuck them in the ground. Just over half of them have new growth now. I think learner may be right though. I now have several sticks with buds coming off them but I can't imagine how they could end up being like a proper bush with a decent rootstock. It's fun to try these things though and is not hard work. We are all on a learning process and trying things is the best way to learn.

[mumofstig]

modern roses don't make very good roots it seems, but the old varieties can grow strong roots, because they are more like wild roses

[Junie]

modern roses don't make very good roots it seems, but the old varieties can grow strong roots, because they are more like wild roses

thats good news, mine are quite old varieties I think!

[mumofstig]

  that's good then 

[Paul Plots]

............We are all on a learning process and trying things is the best way to learn.

Never a truer word said