It’s time to prune your roses. Do you know how? Even minor mistakes can jeopardize the health and flowering of your plants. But don’t worry, here are nurserymen’s suggestions to avoid mistakes.
Not all rose bushes need to be pruned , and not all in the same way. There are a few rules to follow if you want the plant to grow lushly and bloom abundantly. Despite its delicate appearance, roses are very robust and resilient plants , possessing great resilience. Pruning roses should be a no-brainer if you know how.
When to prune it
The best time to intervene is late winter , when there should no longer be any risk of night frosts damaging the shoots. When the buds are swollen, this is the ideal time, before they open. In warmer regions, it can be as early as late January, and in colder regions, even early March.
Use sharp pruning shears to cut the branch cleanly
Use sharp pruning shears to cut the branch cleanly without causing abrasions. Disinfect the shears with rubbing alcohol and repeat the process when moving from plant to plant to avoid spreading disease.
Choose dry days because water droplets on branches promote fungal diseases. Check the weather forecast to make sure no rain is forecast for at least the next day.
Roses that cannot be pruned
Not all roses require pruning . For this reason, it is important to know which variety is being grown properly. Keep the label with you when purchasing to ensure you don’t make a mistake. Climbing roses , which form a thick, naturally shaped shrub, should not be pruned to avoid spoiling their lushness. For the same reason, you should avoid pruning old roses . These are splendid specimens with soft colors, hybridized before 1920, which are generally not repeat-flowering. It is not even necessary to intervene with botanical roses , the wild species with a bushy habit. For these varieties, you can limit yourself to cutting some of the oldest branches every two or three years to reinvigorate the plant. However, avoid doing this operation in winter to avoid compromising flowering, but move it to July.
Not all roses need pruning
Pruning roses, if you know the species you won’t make any mistakes
Pruning is necessary for modern roses, although not for all in the same way . These are specimens obtained from hybridizations, generally repeat-flowering and with large, showy flowers that emerge from the foliage. There are bush, landscape, or low-growing varieties. Landscape roses and low-growing roses do not need pruning unless you want to shape the plant and avoid sprawling development. Bush varieties, on the other hand, must be pruned annually.
Start with the dry and broken branches, the old and woody ones, and the thinnest twigs that have grown inside the bush. Finally, work on the other branches at a height of 20-30 cm from the ground. Make a clean cut about half a centimeter above the new shoots and never horizontally to avoid waterlogging. Start at the bud and work diagonally downwards so that rainwater runs off the bud. Immediately after pruning, apply a biological fungicide and organic fertilizer.