There’s no doubt when we say roses make the most beautiful addition to any garden. They can instantly perk up a weary garden with their lovely sight and fragrance. However, to maintain their healthy appearance and fresh growth, you should consider pruning them – ideally after the spring’s last frost. This is usually early in the year in warm climatic regions (somewhere between January and April).
Here’s a beginner’s guide to pruning roses step by step:
Things You’ll Need:
⦁ High-quality gardening gloves (long and thick)
⦁ Long bypass shears
⦁ Appropriate clothing (thick enough to prevent bites from thorns)
Basic Steps to Pruning Roses
Before you begin pruning, remember – not all the roses in your garden may need pruning. You only need to prune the areas of roses that are wilted or dead. They may have lost their verve due to harsh winters or lack of care.
Here’s how you can begin pruning the easy way:
⦁ Examine the base of your rose plant or bush, remove broken or damaged leaves (if any), and prune off dead canes upon sight. This will help you shape the plant and develop an open center, which is good for air circulation. More light will strike the plant and prevent plant diseases.
⦁ Next, remove the damaged wood(s). How would you know if it is damaged? Make a deep cut into it. If it is brown, it is dead or diseased, but if it is white or green, it is still living and thriving. Cut the brown wood to the base using a bypass shear.
⦁ Get rid of thin or dangly branches as they will grow up to be twiggy, having little to no growth. In other words, they serve no purpose to the plant’s overall growth or beauty, so it is better to remove them then and there.
⦁ Prune crossed branches to avoid random growth. Your aim should be to encourage upward growth, so prune the canes that are entwined with other branches.
⦁ You should also eliminate suckers from the base of the plant. Suckers do not produce any flowers, so it is better to prune them.
⦁ Make sure to seal the freshly cut canes by using a rich pruning sealer (available at any gardening shop). Or else, your rose plant will be at risk of getting infected by pesky cane borers.
⦁ Once you’re done pruning, clean up the area around your rose bush or plant. Make sure to dispose of all the dead leaves and cut branches because pests can be hiding in them.
⦁ Roses are heavy feeders. So, fertilize them generously and water frequently to ensure maximum blooming.
Isn’t the task of rose pruning easy peasy lemon squeezy?
Even if you’ve no experience in rose pruning, with these simple how-to steps, you can easily prune your garden roses and see them prosper all year long.
