When it comes to roses, pruning can be frightening for gardeners, as it seems counterintuitive to cut back magnificent growth, and it can be downright unpleasant if the plant grows out of control. But pruning results in a healthy plant because it stimulates new growth, removes old and rotting wood, contributes to the overall shape of the plant, and reduces the likelihood of fungal disease by improving air circulation around the rose plant. Find out below how you should prune your roses in spring! We explain what the most common mistakes are when pruning!
Before the first flowers appear, roses should be cut back between the end of winter and the beginning of spring. When you should prunedepends on the speciesof the rose plant as well as the hardiness zone in which it grows. Keep an eye on the leaf buds that are developing on your rose plant. When they swell and take on a pink or reddish color, it's time to prune them. For successful pruning it is important to time it correctly, as this should be done either just before the buds open or immediately after the last hard frost in your area. However, some roses are picky about when to prune, preferring that you trim their shoots shortly before they emerge from hibernation.
Pruning roses in spring – avoid these mistakes
Don't be put off by the fact that skillful rose pruning takes time and effort - experienced gardeners believe that it is extremely difficult to injure a rose bush, and most mistakes grow quickly. Plus, it's better to make mistakes when learning new skills than to allow your roses to become uncontrollable and make a huge mess in your garden in the future.
You don't wear proper protective clothing
Before you begin work, make sure you are wearing heavy-duty gardening gloves that protect your arms, canvas or denim pants, and a long-sleeved canvas shirt or jacket. Stings from rose thorns can lead to a number of different bacterial and fungal diseases, one of which is more commonly referred to as “rose disease.” Because of the frightening severity of these diseases, it is important to avoid thorn injuries as much as possible by wearing protective clothing.
The timing is poorly chosen
The day when it is coldest and wettest is ideal for pruning your roses, which involves making deep incisions in the bush. Once you've made these deep cuts, all that's left to do is maintain the shrubs.
Cutting roses in spring with unsuitable instruments
Never use anvil shears. Always cut with scissors that have a bypass.
Incorrect stem size
Cut the stem when it is thinner than a pencil. The diameter of the following growth at this point on the stem will be the same. Consider how tall you want the stem to be. A large bloom requires sturdy stem support.
The scissors are held incorrectly
Bypass scissors have two different sized blades, one of which is very small and pointed while the other is thick and curved. Place the thick blade on the part to be removed. The part of the shoots that it touches is bruised.
Pruning in the wrong place
Cut about 3mm above where a leaf is attached. Leaving a longer piece of stem will cause the stem to die down to the leaf (or deeper).
Pruning roses in spring - the cut was made at the wrong angle
Any angle close to 45 degrees is acceptable. A cut that is more oblique and has a narrower angle is bad. A completely horizontal cut is also acceptable. A slanted cut is believed to prevent rot caused by water standing on the cut surface.
Improper or lack of care after cutting
In most cases, follow-up treatment of the trunk is not necessary. If something goes wrong at this point, the trunk should be cut back even further. When cutting an old stem at the bud base, the large node from which all other stems radiate, be sure to seal the cut. Under no circumstances should you use emulsion paint, but you can use white glue.
No protection for the bush after the necessary pruning
It is wrong to believe that a shrub cannotis affected by diseases. Whether leaves are present or not, the black spot fungus that is the bane of rose growers overwinters on the stems. Cover plants after pruning to prevent further defoliation, especially if your neighbors' roses are affected by black spot disease.
Pruning roses in spring – you have fed the bush too much or too early
In mid-February the roses are in the dormant phase (no growth). As soon as the soil temperatures rise in March, the rose plants have a need to “eat”. It is recommended to grow roses moderatelywith a balanced rose fertilizerto feed and then feed again after about four weeks. A plant that is overly stressed by its diet will lose its leaves.
