To have a beautiful, lush bush, you need to know how and when to prune your roses: here are all the useful tips for your flower garden every spring.
They say the rose is the queen of the garden : it is certainly the symbol of love, as well as one of the most beautiful and colorful flowers in the world. You can find many varieties, each of them perfect for decorating open spaces and for transforming the balcony into a flowery corner. Growing roses does not require any special skills, but you should pay attention to pruning , so that the plant is always healthy and produces magnificent flowers. Here’s how and when to intervene.
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Rosa, the characteristics of the plant
How to grow roses
Pruning roses: useful tips
When to prune roses
How to prune roses
Rosa, the characteristics of the plant
The rose is a plant belonging to the Rosaceae family ( which includes not only numerous floral species, but also fruit plants such as the cherry, peach, apricot, apple and pear). It probably originated in Asia Minor between 60 and 70 million years ago and quickly spread throughout the rest of the world. Its main habitat is the Mediterranean area, where it grows spontaneously up to 1000 meters above sea level, preferring good sun exposure and a temperate climate . But it is also able to withstand winter temperatures quite well, at least in our latitudes.
There are many varieties of rose bushes , some bushy, others climbing or even in the form of small trees. Even their flowers can be very different from each other, both in size and shape. One of the most widespread species is the dog rose, which also grows spontaneously in our country, while the glaucous rose and the pendulina rose are particularly widespread in the Alps. It is mainly an ornamental plant , grown in the garden or in pots to give a touch of color to the environment. In fact, roses are among the most beautiful flowers: they can be of several colors, from pink to red, including white, yellow, purple and all the shades in between.
How to grow roses
Growing roses is not that difficult: planting usually takes place in autumn , so that the plant has enough time to develop its roots before the winter cold arrives. In areas most at risk of frost, however, sowing can be delayed until the very first weeks of spring, when temperatures gradually begin to warm up. Since the plant prefers direct sunlight, it is best to choose a location that is well exposed for most of the day and well ventilated. Some varieties grow well even in partial shade, while fully shaded, too humid or too dry areas should be avoided.
As for the soil, the rose bush has no particular needs: however, it is better to opt for a soft, humus-rich soil , capable of retaining moisture well without risking the formation of dangerous stagnations. Once planted, this flower needs a lot of water to grow healthily: so pay attention to the soil, making sure that it is always moist. Remember to water early in the morning or after sunset, so as not to risk burning the plant, and not to wet the leaves. In addition, towards the end of summer, irrigation should be reduced to prepare the rose for winter rest.
Pruning roses: useful tips
We have seen that growing roses is very easy, but there is still one fundamental step to see: it is pruning , a very important technique to ensure that the plant grows healthy and gives abundant flowering. Cutting the old branches to make room for the new, younger and more productive ones also allows for a more harmonious and tidy bush. However, it is necessary to know not only the time when it is best to prune the rose bush , but also how the cuts should be made. Let’s see what are the most useful tips.
When to prune roses
Pruning can be done in three seasons: winter, summer, and autumn. While the summer and autumn pruning can be omitted, the winter pruning remains essential for the health of the plant. The removal of dry or withered branches should be done between late January and early February (but it can be postponed until March in areas most at risk of late frosts). You can then intervene again after flowering to remove any diseased or pest-affected branches, but also to thin out an overabundant shrub , which risks depriving the innermost flowers of air and light.
How to prune roses
Now let’s see how roses are pruned. Carefully observe the plant and select the branches to be cut : focus on those that are dry or diseased, but also on those that have grown too much indoors and therefore cannot benefit from sunlight and proper air circulation. The latter, in fact, not only will never produce lush flowers, but they also remove important nutrients from the rest of the plant. How to proceed? The cut must be made above a healthy bud . It is good to choose a bud that goes outwards, this way you will have a more pleasant bush shape.
The pruning cut should go in the opposite direction to the bud and obliquely. For each branch, only 2 or 3 buds should be kept, in this way the generated branches will be stronger and capable of producing roses with bright colors. Pruning is slightly different in the case of climbing roses , real trees. In this case, the branches should remain longer than those left for small or potted plants. To have optimal flowering, it is also possible to leave 5 or 6 buds. The pruning technique is rather the same, therefore oblique pruning opposite the gem. In this case, it is also recommended to use a support.
For summer or autumn pruning , it is only recommended to clean the plants of all dry branches and remove faded roses, in this way it is also possible to extend the flowering period. If the cut scar is large, take care to cover it with putty. To avoid transmitting diseases to the plant, also remember to sterilize shears and other cutting tools before and after each pruning. Their correct care is essential to have healthy roses, always lush and in bloom.