JANUARY TIME FOR ROSE PRUNING : SANTA CLARITA VALLEY SOCIETY GIVES GREEN THUMBS TIMELY TIPS.

Byline: Lisa Van Proyen Daily News Staff Writer

Gather ye Rose-buds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying:

And this same flower that smiles today,

To-morrow will be dying.

- Robert Herrick

When veteran rose pruner Kitty Belendez counts her blessings, her 250 rose bushes at her Saugus home are among them.

The rosarian said one reason she prefers roses over other blooms is that they're one of the sweetest-smelling flowers.

``I've dabbled in gardening for many years, and the rose is better, generally because it's more fragrant and it blooms for us in Southern California almost year-round,'' Belendez said. ``They also really produce, and you can cut them for exhibitions.''

Belendez is the vice president of the Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society and is certified as a consulting rosarian through the American Rose Association. To be certified, a person must be a member of the national organization for three years and pass a one-day seminar.

The rain on Sunday did not keep Belendez and two other consulting rosarians, Steve Jones of Valencia and Kathy DeRoo of Saugus, away from teaching dozens of experienced and amateur gardeners of all ages how to properly prune their fragrant bushes.

The local nonprofit rose society, which boasts 200 members, offered the annual free rose pruning demonstration at Heritage Junction in the old train station next to Hart Park in Newhall.

In a question-and-answer session, gardeners learned of primary concerns when pruning hybrid teas, floribundas, miniatures, climbers and old garden roses.

``The main thing is to keep a real clean garden. Don't throw old leaves and bushes into the garden,'' Belendez said.

Roses harbor diseases, spider mites and aphids, she said. ``With roses, you need a real clean bed.''

January is the time for pruning - during cold weather, Belendez said. Roses should generally be cut back in half. If the bush is 5 feet tall, then it should be cut down to 2-1/2 feet, she said.

The leaves, as well as the smaller stems, should also be stripped off the plant, she said.

``Every bush is different. But generally, you should leave about five to seven of the newer, greener canes,'' she advised gardeners.

This forces the roses to go dormant and helps eliminate insects and fungus.

The Santa Clarita Valley rarely has problems with rusts, black spots, mildew and other diseases on its roses because the climate is hot and dry, Belendez said.

Some of the gardeners at the demonstration brought along their gloves and shears for hands-on participation.

Sunday's seminar helped even the more advanced of gardeners visualize what they have read in books about the art of cutting back the unnecessary parts of their bushes for better form and scents.

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Photo

Photo: (color) Kitty Belendez prunes a miniature rose bush.

John Lazar/Special to the Daily News