By Martha Wright. With a little care this time of year, roses can be the stars of your garden all spring and summer. Late winter is the perfect time to prune your roses to encourage healthy new growth and bigger, better blooms.
If you’re hesitant to cut this precious plant, don’t worry — you’re not alone! I was shocked to learn you should cut off a third of the rose bush right around Valentine’s Day. Shouldn’t we be celebrating roses, not cutting them back?
But as I learned, tough love is exactly what our roses need for healthier growth. Here are a few things to know to keep your roses looking their best.
When To Prune
In San Antonio, a good pruning in late February or early March gives your roses a fresh start for the year ahead. Some believe Valentine’s Day is best, but I recommend watching weather warnings for a possible late February freeze before grabbing your clippers.
Prune Like A Pro
Get your tools ready. Make sure you have a clean, sharp pair of pruners and some gloves.
Start with the three Ds: Remove dead, damaged and diseased branches first.
Make a good cut. Identify the overall height you want. Most roses can benefit from pruning one-third of the plant’s height. I find it easiest to chop to the preferred height, then work from there.
Get in shape. After the extra height is removed, look for branches that are crossing or growing inward and remove them. This helps open the center of the plant to allow airflow and discourage fungal disease.
Find your buds. Identify outward facing buds and prune just above them, ideally cutting outward at a 45-degree angle. This will encourage new growth that spreads outward.
After Pruning
Clean up debris, including fallen leaves. Some mulch and a good watering will help the rose bush retain moisture, and a little rose food can give them a boost as they start their spring growth.
Different Roses / Different Rules
Whether you have hybrid teas or climbing roses, floribundas or knockouts, all can use a good trim. An online search can help you find tips specific to your variety.
Knockout roses, while low maintenance, can handle heavy pruning to keep them from getting too large or leggy.
Climbing roses should be lightly pruned, with some shaping and removing of older growth.
Rock roses — though not actually in the rose family — can benefit from trimming off any dead stems and shaping as desired.
Think of pruning as getting a head start on spring cleaning — just for your garden! A little effort now will leave your roses refreshed and revitalized, leaving you with beautiful flowers come spring!
Martha Wright is a Southern California native, Martha grew up understanding the importance of water conservation. She is the director of Conservation for SAWS where she enjoys using her love of data and the environment to improve water conservation in San Antonio. In her free time, she enjoys tending to one of her favorite plants — rock roses — or traveling to botanical gardens when Dale Chihuly has an exhibit.
