When is the Best time to prune your roses? How much should you prune them?
Answers:
In the middle of winter. You prune them down to the elbows, which are where there are bumps in the branch where new ones will grow. Happy gardening. Make sure you wear gloves because those thorns really hurt. And you will need strong clippers to save your hands.
Other answers:
It really depends upon what kind you have, but MOST roses do best if you prune them in the early spring. Roses grow best on new wood. You can keep triming them during the growing season to get fuller bushes with bigger and more roses, but stop pruning 3-4 weeks before the 1st frost so they will go dormant and not die over the winter
It really depends upon what kind you have, but MOST roses do best if you prune them in the early spring. Roses grow best on new wood. You can keep triming them during the growing season to get fuller bushes with bigger and more roses, but stop pruning 3-4 weeks before the 1st frost so they will go dormant and not die over the winter
PRUNING
It's easy ! Don't be afraid or put off. If you make a mistake, so what ! it doesn't matter. Roses are very forgiving plants. Prune in late July/early August, and again (less severely) in January/February. Use clean secateurs and a small saw for the very thick old wood. Clean off cutting implements with Dettol or bleach between each rose bush. Naturally wear a pair of gloves unless you are a masochist !
Cut off at least half the plant - anywhere - just cut it off !!
Now cut out all weak, old spindly growths.
The freshest looking stems are this year's growth. Darker stems are last years, whilst old brown stems are three or more years old. Cut out all the old branches as low on the bush as possible.
Cut back all the remaining limbs a little further to an outward facing bud. Cut an angle so that the moisture runs off. Cutting to an outward facing bud keeps the shrub vase shaped and the centre free for good air movement. Always cut about 5mm above the bud.
Remember that if you ever see any growth from below the graft union CUT IT OUT ! These are suckers from the wild briar understock.
Cutting rose flowers is a natural form of light pruning. If you don't cut the flowers for the house, then make sure that you regularly dead head.
I LOVE ROSES & Wish you every sucess
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