‘Correct time’ to prune your roses to guarantee ‘bigger and more vibrant blooms’ in summer (Image: Getty)
is essential for maintaining the health and shape of most bushes. It enhances their appearance, improves air circulation, lowers the risk of disease, and promotes fresh growth and blooming.
Despite what many might think, the best time to prune a bush is not once it has started to produce foliage in early spring.
Nor is it in summer or autumn when the bush is still actively growing. Pruning at all of these times can actually “do more harm than good” for the plant, according to experts Jim and Mary Competti of .
Instead, they advise gardeners to prune in late winter, which is now in February up until mid-March. They claimed that this would result in “stronger, bigger and more vibrant blooms for summer”.
They said: “The correct time to prune your rose bushes is late winter before they start to come out of dormancy in early spring.”
:
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
The correct time to prune your rose bushes is late winter (Image: Getty)
The “biggest advantage” of pruning now is that since the plant isn’t actively growing, there’s far less risk of damage.
Pruning while a plant is actively growing in the spring and summer can “stress it out”, slowing its overall development.
Gardening experts at Dino Decking also recommend now as the “perfect time” to prune roses. They said: “For those who already have a rose bush, February is the perfect time to prune existing roses before new growth begins in spring.
Don’t miss… [TIPS] [EXPERT]
Pruning roses in late winter sets the foundation for a season of strong growth and beautiful blooms (Image: Getty)
“Pruning roses in late winter sets the foundation for a season of strong growth and beautiful blooms.
“Removing dead or weak stems now helps the plant focus its energy where it matters most.”
When it comes to pruning, it’s important to know that different types of roses require different methods.
Some bush types can handle heavy cutting in winter, while others only need light trimming and the removal of dead wood.
Some roses, such as climbing roses, bloom multiple times a year and will not require as much pruning. As they flower on older, mature branches, avoid pruning them for the first couple of years after planting.
When pruning climbing roses, only remove dead or damaged branches if necessary. Cutting too much can reduce future blooms.
With hybrid tea and floribunda roses, remove any dead or weak stems to encourage strong, healthy growth by cutting them back to around 15-30 cm from the ground as they respond well to heavy pruning.