When temperatures begin to drop, you should prune your rose bushes back a little. It's important not to overdo it. The autumn procedure will prepare the shrubs for winter and help them survive this cold period. Garden experts from the Martha Stewart portal (16+) told us when and how to do it correctly.
Light pruning in October helps protect roses from the elements. Tall, unruly shoots are more susceptible to damage from winter winds. Reducing the number of shoots will help them not break under the weight of snow or ice.
It is important not to delay this process until the onset of persistent cold weather. Experts say that any time until the end of November will do.
How to prune correctly:
- Inspect your roses for brown or blackened shoots. These are often signs of illness. Trim them back to “live” areas.
- Remove any branches that rub against each other, but avoid trimming healthy green wood unless necessary. Excessive pruning can encourage new growth that will not survive winter temperatures.
- Gardeners also recommend plucking off all faded petals instead of trimming dead rose flowers. This will signal the plant to stop flowering and begin to go dormant, allowing the old flowers to produce fruit.
It is also important to remove any plant debris from your flower bed in the fall, as it may be infected with black spot or other common rose diseases.
