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Pegging Roses

Flowers will appear along the cane of a pegged rose.

Pegging is simply taking the arching canes of a large shrub rose and tying them back down to the ground, or even back to the plant itself.

We do this for a couple of reasons.  First, it keeps the rose under control.  Second, it creates more flowers – a LOT more flowers.

When a rose cane is trained horizontally all the little bud eyes along the cane send up new side shoots (also called laterals) and at the end of each one a rose bloom will appear.

The best way to get maximum flowers out of a large shrub rose is by pegging

It’s actually a lot easier than you think and the effect is wonderful.  Watch the video below and we’ll show you a few different ways to do it.

Here are a few rules of thumb:

  • It’s easiest to do this when the rose canes are young and pliable.
  • If you try this with an older cane that seems resistant to bending do it in stages.  Bend the cane as much as you can, secure it and in a few weeks try bending it a little more
  • You can keep the rose tidy by trimming back the side shoots after each flowering just like you would on a climbing rose.  See our page on Pruning Climbing Roses for more help.
  • Make sure what you use to tie the rose with won’t cut into the cane.  Don’t use materials like wire.  Instead use plant tie or something soft.

For further information:

  1. Please read our Novice Corner article “Bloomin High

Enjoy the video!