When is the best time to prune roses?

Overview of Rose

The rose blooms for a long time, from August to April of the following year. The flowers are large and have a strong fragrance. They can be grown in pots or as cut flowers. The main types of roses include cut roses, edible roses, climbing roses, ground cover roses, etc.

Rose has strong adaptability to the environment and is suitable for planting in slightly acidic sandy loam that is rich in organic matter and well-drained. It likes sunlight but is not resistant to strong light and likes warmth. Generally, the best growth temperature is 22 to 25 degrees. High temperatures in summer are not conducive to flowering.

Rose pruning time

One of the characteristics that distinguishes roses from other flowers and trees is that they require multiple pruning during the cultivation process. They need to be pruned roughly four times a year, once each in spring, summer, autumn and winter, and winter pruning is the most critical.

1. Pruning after flowering in spring

Roses have two peak blooming seasons a year. The first peak blooming season is around the end of spring and early summer, around the end of May. The first batch of roses has the best blooming quality of the year, with large and colorful flowers. After the blooming season, they need to be pruned lightly in time. The so-called light pruning means that the branches of roses that are too long should not be pruned. It is advisable to only prune at the bottom of the second leaf under the flower.

2. Summer

After the second batch of rose flowering, around July, the weather gradually becomes hot. Although rose plants do not have an obvious dormant period in summer, the third batch of flowers that bloom in a high temperature environment have little ornamental value in terms of quality and flowering period. Therefore, pruning is needed to regulate and prevent old branches from sprouting new buds too early.

After the second batch of flowering, only the remaining flowers can be removed, retaining the leaf buds at the top of the plant. The flower branches continue to grow and develop, reaching a full and rich state, storing enough nutrients for the second flowering period in autumn. After the beginning of autumn, the weather gradually turns cooler, and the second sprouting of the rose branches can all be cut off, retaining only the height of the first pruning.

3. Autumn

September to October is the second peak flowering period of roses. The characteristics of roses in this season are that the colors are particularly full and bright. The flowering period is about twice as long as that in spring. Therefore, the autumn flowers of roses also have ornamental value. After the flowering period, it is not advisable to prune them.

4. Around the Winter Solstice

Most of the branches of the plant have developed fully and maturely. After entering the dormant period, the sap of the rose branches flows slowly. After pruning, most of the sap will not flow out. This is the best time to prune the rose. This pruning requires heavy pruning. The so-called heavy pruning means cutting off most of the branches of the plant.

Rose pruning method

1. Generally speaking, the rose branches with stronger growth can be lightly pruned, leaving about 5 buds, while the weaker branches need to be heavily pruned, leaving only 1-2 buds.

2. In midsummer, the growth of roses is relatively slow, so light pruning is only needed. We can start from the second leaf below the withered flower. There is no need to cut off too many branches and leaves, just those overgrown branches and leaves and the withered flowers.

3. There are 3 buds on each branch. In order to make the rose look more beautiful, we can prune the branches that have bloomed once, and clean up those dense, overlapping and crossed branches to ensure ventilation and light transmission.

4. As winter approaches and the temperature continues to drop, the rose is about to enter a dormant period. At this time, all sick, crossed, withered and old branches and leaves need to be cut off. After pruning, you can prepare for the winter.

Things to note when pruning roses

After a light pruning of the rose, the remaining nutrients can promote the sprouting of new branches and flower buds. If the branches are cut too long, it will lead to the loss of nutrients. The pruning time should be when the rose flowers seem to be withering but not yet withering. Be sure not to wait until the petals are completely withered before pruning. Pruning too late will consume nutrients and be unfavorable for the sprouting of new branches.