Pruning Roses Doesnt Have To Be Intimidating

Pruning roses can be scary for lots of gardeners, but once you get the hang of it, it is actually a fun and necessary job to do. Pruning roses can do several things for the roses, including letting them grow healthier and more beautifully. Read this article—you’ll learn new and fun ways to prune roses without letting the job intimidate you.

Why Should I Prune My Roses?

Well, there are a few reasons. First of all, pruning roses will help them grow faster and better. They will be shapelier and healthier the more you prune them. Secondly, all dead stems and wood from the plant is being removed, which enables the plant to ‘break free’ and grow better. You’ll also shape the plant better and give it a better chance to breathe and to take in and retain water. These are only a few reasons why it’s a good idea to prune your roses.

When Should I Prune My Roses?

Usually roses should be pruned around the springtime. This encourages better blooming and the air circulation is moist and cool, but fresh. The weather is warm but not too hot so that it will kill the plants. Sometimes you can decipher when to prune them by the type of roses they are. For example, Portland roses will continue to bloom over and over, and you want to prune them after the first bloom of the season. Same thing goes for Bourbon roses. Ramblers bloom once, and you’ll want to prune them in the spring to remove damage from the winter and also to remove old, dead wood so that the rose may bloom and grow better.

Pruning Those Roses

You’ll need only a few items in order to make your roses beautiful again. You’ll need thick gloves so as not to stab yourself on the plant’s thorns. You’ll need by-pass pruning sheers. Make sure your tools are sharp, not rusted and free of dirt.

Begin your pruning at the bottom or base of the plant. Remember that the reason you’re pruning is to improve the air circulation and encourage better water circulation within the plant itself. Make a clean cut at an approximate 45-degree angle. After doing this, remove any excess or dead plant, wood, or damage that will not come off naturally. Remove weak branches that are thin and dying. Make sure the cane all the way from where you started pruning is white. Make sure the plant is free of any dead debris, damage, or old branches or thorns. Be cautious, but you can work quickly. The job can tend to get a bit tedious at times, but it’s a necessary process in order to keep your roses beautiful.

More About Rose Pruning

Don’t prune old roses in the spring because new blooms will not grow. Prune roses that have grown for one season carefully and lightly. Give them time to collect old and dead wood before you prune them heavily. Don’t prune new roses, or ones that have been recently planted. They don’t need it yet—there has been no debris or dead wood on them yet. You’ll want to remove every leaf from newly pruned roses to make sure that no harmful agents from the winter carry on into the plant. When you prune, you’ll want to remove anywhere from about one third to one half of the plant. This depends on how new the plant is and how big it is. Make sure the cuts are clean so the new stems can grow nicely and not ragged. Don’t let pruning roses intimidate you. The more you know and the more you do it, the better you’ll get and before you know it, you’ll be a rose-pruning expert and have no reason to worry.