Late January to early February is the most important time to help roses grow (Image: Getty)
It can feel like there is nothing to do in the garden when it is cold outside, but now is the time gardeners need to be paying attention to their rose bushes if they want them to flower. Late winter is one of the most important periods for roses as their dormancy is ending, and they are less likely to be stressed as they are not growing leaves or flowers yet.
During the colder months, old foliage and diseased branches begin to build up on a rose bush, and if left alone, they will begin to drain energy from the plant. Roses that cannot store enough energy before spring will end up with weak and shrivelled blooms, or might not be able to produce any flowers at all. Michael Griffiths, the author of the gardening book ‘The Easy Garden’ has revealed that helping roses grow can be really easy, but you just need to take the time to tidy up the plant now in late January to early February.
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All you need to do is remove dead branches and cut rose canes at a 45 degree angle (Image: Getty)
He said: “Winter is a crucial time for rose care, especially when it comes to pruning. If you desire more flowers from your rose bushes, it’s vital to understand how to prune them correctly during the winter months.”
Pruning roses is incredibly easy, but one of the most important gardening jobs to do this time of year if you want a garden flush with flowers in springtime.
One of the biggest mistakes gardeners make is “babying” their roses, according to Michael, by not pruning them or only making small cuts.
Michael added: “Roses don’t want gentle. They want confident pruning.”
Do not be afraid to cut back roses as they are likely to have a lot of weaker canes in late winter, so pruning hard will help you increase the size and number of flowers roses will produce this year.
Cut above any outward facing flower buds and you will get much stronger stems (Image: Getty)How to prune roses properly
To begin, prune any of the dead wood on your roses. It is easy to spot as dead wood will look brown or black, while living branches will look green and should be left alone.
Cut away any branches that cross or rub against the plant. You want as much airflow as possible getting into the centre, as it helps keep the plant dry and helps prevent rose diseases like black spot.
Remove any canes that appear weak, thin and simply look like they will snap off easily. They tend to get tangled easily and are unlikely to produce any flowers.
Then, prune any remaining canes. Cut just above any outward-facing buds and remove about a third of the cane’s height.
Make sure to also cut canes at a 45-degree angle, sloping away from the bud. This is done to encourage new stems to grow outward, which usually helps them grow stronger and allows more space between flowers.
Roses are heavy feeders and will need a lot of nutrients to begin flower production. Make sure to mulch them, buy a good quality fertiliser for them after pruning, and you can look forward to lots of big rose blooms in your spring garden.
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