No English garden would be complete without at least one rose. The national flower is a must-have for every self-respecting gardener, and some roses can last up to 50 years with the right care and attention. However, you need to know when to prune roses to get the most out of your plants.
Yes, whether you’ve decked your garden out with the best roses for small gardens or you’ve learned just how incredible bare-root roses can be, part and parcel of growing roses is understanding their care requirements. And while knowing how to prune roses is key, using the right techniques at the wrong time can still spell disaster for these romantic blooms.
That’s why we’ve reached out to garden experts to understand exactly when to prune roses and why you need to choose the perfect time to pick up your secateurs and start snipping.
When to prune roses
First and foremost, you shouldn’t confuse pruning for deadheading roses. While the former is the process of removing any part of the plant, the latter refers to removing solely the spent blooms from the plant.
But it’s not just about how to prune your roses. It’s very much about when, too, as pruning at the wrong time ‘can negatively affect your roses and cause further growing issues,’ says Steve Chilton, gardening expert from LeisureBench.
This is echoed by Morris Hankinson, Managing Director of Hopes Grove Nurseries, who explains, ‘The timing of pruning is important so the rose isn’t damaged or susceptible to pests and diseases.’ However, he does add, ‘But generally speaking, roses are tough.’
So when is the best time? Similarly to when to prune hydrangeas and when to prune forsythia, roses should be left alone before and during the winter months when they’re dormant.
Morris says, ‘February to March is the best time to prune most types of roses which is the time when they are waking up from dormancy. Pruning at the end of winter into spring will help the plant put its energy into new growth. I was once told by an expert rose breeder that if the only time you prune your rose is February - your rose will be just fine!’
Because of this, it’s well worth adding this task to your list of plants to prune in February so you don’t forget and so you can continue to enjoy your rose year after year. This is also the case if you want to know when to prune climbing roses.
Try not to prune roses earlier than this, though. And while it may be tempting to prune roses in autumn or winter, Morris says that this ‘can lead to frost damage, so keep an eye on the temperature so pruning doesn’t take place when open pruning cuts could be exposed to frost.’
Petar Ivanov, gardening expert at Fantastic Gardeners, also adds, ‘Roses need a period of dormancy to rest and rejuvenate. Pruning in autumn can disrupt this natural process and may affect the overall health and strength of the plant.’
It’s also important to ensure you don’t prune roses any later than February. Thankfully, it’s easy to spot when it’s too late to prune roses, as you should put down your secateurs as soon as you spot new signs of growth.
Of course, choosing when to prune roses also varies in terms of the roses you have in your garden. And while most roses fall under the category of winter pruning, rambling and shrub roses can be pruned in the summer if you follow the correct steps.
If you want to avoid any thorns to the fingers, it's well worth investing in some thorn-proof gloves when pruning roses.
If you need to replace your secateurs, you can't go wrong with these ones. They even come with a 2-year guarantee so you can make the most of them.
Before pruning your roses, you should always clean your secateurs. If not, you may expose these beautiful blooms to disease.
FAQ
How do I prepare my roses for winter?
Although roses can survive the winter months without any human intervention, there are certain things that you can do to prepare them for the cold snap. First and foremost, you can mulch your roses to prevent extreme soil temperature fluctuations.
You should then keep an eye on the calendar and prune your roses in February or March to ensure they continue to grow and bloom year after year.
Do you deadhead climbing roses?
Yes, you should definitely deadhead climbing roses. By removing the spent blooms as soon as you see them, you can promote further growth and even encourage a second bloom. Deadheading climbing roses will also ensure that they always look their best.
However, that’s not the only reason why you should add this task to your to-do list. Deadheading roses also stops the plant from putting its energy into forming rose hips, which means it can put more energy into the blooms.
So, there you have it! Now you know when to prune roses, you shouldn’t make any mistakes.
