6 Quick and Tips for Pruning Roses

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Pruning roses can be challenging any gardener. Their stems are filled with sharp thorns, that can scratch you all over, especially if the shrubs turned into overgrown thickets. Many of the rose species found in common gardens are not natives in their area so it can be difficult for insects to pollinate them.

Then there's the fact that there are so many varieties. Tree roses are the most common. However, it's not that uncommon to find rose bushes and roses that vertically climb on arches and gates.

Also, roses bloom differently. Some varieties bloom all year round while other only bloom once a year.

Benefits of pruning roses

Still, if you have roses in your garden, you'll need to gut up and prune them on a regular basis. That's because pruning roses at the right time and the right way is beneficial for you and the plants.

Pruning rose bushes and climbers can help reduce those painful stems and encourage more beautiful flowers to bloom.

Pruning also helps keep your roses healthy. Roses are prone to fungal disease and pest infestation. If you don't remove these infected areas, they could quickly spread and even kill your roses altogether.

6 tips for pruning roses the right way

1.Wear the proper gear.

Pruning roses can literally be a dangerous and painful task, no thanks to their thorny stems and prickly-edged leaves.

That said, make sure that before pruning your roses, make sure that you come prepared. Wear a tightly woven shirt so that it won't get caught among the thorns and get ruined. Also, be sure to wear some protective eyewear and thick gloves to protect your eyes and hands from the thorns and leaves as you prune the inner stems and branches.

2.cover the area underneath the rose bush or tree.

Laying an old tarp or newspapers around the base of your rose bush or tree will make clean up easier, and prevent you from getting hurt.

3.cut the stems at a 45-degree angle.

Cutting your rose stems at an angle towards the center will help your roses grow outward, allowing some room in the middle to let air and rainwater to get through. Giving room to the middle part of your rose bush or tree also helps prevent pests from breeding and invading your beautiful flowers. They're even more sturdy and not prone to breaking during windy and rainy days.

Above all, cutting your rose stems at an angle will prevent your roses from blooming with the blossoms facing the ground.

4.Declutter the center

Now comes the tricky part. You'll need to get rid of any dead canes and twigs in the middle of your rose bush or tree. Apart from these weakening your plant's hold on the ground, these dead canes and twigs can also become prime breeding grounds for diseases and pests.

5.Cut off full blossoms

When your roses are in full bloom, all of its energy and nutrients are directed towards the blossom. This is to help prepare them for any seeds to form.

Cutting the blossoms while they're still in bloom, also known as deadheading, stops the seeds from forming. As a result, the energy and nutrients will be diverted back to the stems of your rose, encouraging their growth and producing more flowers.

6.Prune roses at the right time

It's essential to appropriately schedule the time when you'll be pruning roses in your garden. Generally, this should be done just before your roses wakes from its dormant state. This usually happens after spring's final frost.

But since the weather these days is quite erratic, it would be best to talk to a professional gardener in your area to learn the best times of the year for pruning roses.