In full bloom in spring, roses offer an extraordinary show in the garden. Then the flowers fade one by one, and it is time to prune them. Why prune? How to do it the right way? Follow the guide...
Why is it necessary to prune faded roses?
A rose, when it fades, will turn into a fruit and produce seeds like most other plants, in order to ensure its reproduction. This stage will require a lot of energy from the rose, which, busy producing these famous seeds, will flower less. By pruning, the rosebush will regain its vigor and form new shoots that will soon bear beautiful roses, thus prolonging the blooming period for your greater pleasure.
You should also know that non-remontant roses bloom on the previous year's wood, so a well-practiced pruning will encourage the birth of new branches bearing flowers.
The other reason is more aesthetic: it is always a shame to see faded flowers that detract from the overall beauty of the shrub.
How to prune rose flowers?
Pruning is a much more important operation than one might think. It is very technical and requires a few precautions to be taken:
- always choose a well-sharpened and disinfected pruning shears;
- always choose sharp and disinfected pruning shears; always wear gloves, as we often forget that roses can not only injure but also transmit tetanus!
- Preferably proceed in the morning on a dry day, to give the wound time to dry before the night's humidity.
The cut will be made according to the length of the branch: the longer it is, the more important the pruning will be. To keep a harmonious and bushy shape to the roses, it is always preferable to prune low enough, contrary to the pruning practiced by the amateur gardener, who, believing he is doing the right thing, cuts just under the receptacle (bulging part located under the petals and joining the stem). Thus pruned, the stem will have very little chance to branch out and produce new shoots.
You will therefore have to proceed in the following way: you will notice by carefully observing the stem that directly under the faded flower, there is a leaf bearing three leaflets, further below it you will find a leaf bearing 5 leaflets.
Look at the axil of this leaf and you will see a dormant eye close to the stem. Cut at a bevel above this eye so that the upper point of the cut is half a centimeter above the eye. This way you will avoid rainwater running directly on the bud. A new stem will soon appear bearing one or more flowers.
Did you know that?
If you want to flesh out an etiolated subject you can cut lower but still above a leaf with an outward facing eye.
