Your roses will bloom all summer long when you follow these pruning steps (Image: Getty)
As a much-loved flower in any avid gardener’s outdoor space, can flourish in your when you follow a few basic guidelines. Pruning roses is considered to be a little more tricky than other , but with the right steps, you can have flowers that bloom for the entire season. According to David Austen Roses, the main purpose of pruning is to create a “shapely, attractive with good coverage and structure”.
Not only this, but pruning encourages new growth and plentiful blooms ahead of the warmer season. A gardening expert at Stihl, Jane Moore demonstrates her top tips for pruning and explains that what you’re looking for in this stage is the “3D’s”. She gives further insight, saying: “These ‘3D rules’ apply to any pruning, whether it’s fruit bushes, climbers or shrubs like a hydrangea or roses.”
[TIPS] [EXPERT]
Pruning is crucial to have long-lasting flowers (Image: Getty)
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It all starts by taking a close look at your plant to assess whether there are any dead, diseased or damaged stems. According to Jane, you need to be on the lookout for brown dead stems, or ones with wounds or spots on them, and signs of disease or dieback.
It’s also a sign if your plants are crossing over each other and rubbing. If you spot any of these things, it’s time to then cut your plant back down to healthy growth.
The next step is to assess the shape of the plant, and what you should be aiming for is a “goblet shape”. It’s at this stage you want to look for dormant buds, although they can be difficult to spot, and cut just above the bud. Once you do this, Jane says your plant will “soon burst into life”.
In the gardening demonstration, Jane explains: “So, I’ve cut most of these main stems down by half and got rid of all the little sprigs and twigs completely. And, I’ve taken out some of the stems that are growing into the middle of the plant to open it up so that the air and sunlight can get into it.”
By following the same steps, the gardening expert ensures that you will keep your roses “happy and healthy for the whole summer”. To ensure this, it’s thought the best time to prune roses is while they are still dormant, so March is ideal.
It’s important that you don’t prune roses in their growing season, as it may delay flowering. David Austen Roses also recommend removing any foliage, explaining that “this is where disease spores can lay dormant, ready to challenge your plant next year”.