Roses, with their vibrant blooms in a plethora of colours, can transform any garden into a stunning spectacle.
However, to truly make the most of these beautiful plants, they require some tender loving care – particularly when it comes to pruning.
Pruning roses isn’t just about controlling the size of the shrub; the cuts you make can significantly impact the rose’s health, vigour, and flowering potential.
Gardening guru and co-founder of Lawn Edging, Marvin Magusara, shared his top tips for pruning roses to achieve a spectacular floral display.
He insists that pruning roses is “all about timing and skill” to create that “eye-catching flower display of blossoms”.
Marvin suggests using pruning shears on your roses in late winter or early spring, which is the optimal time for pruning.
This ideal time is when the buds start to grow but before they fully leaf out.
This timing allows the plant to channel its energy into developing robust new growth and flowers.
As for technique, Marvin advises trying to open up the centre of the plant. This involves removing any dead, diseased, or thin, spindly stems that serve no purpose other than to take up space.
The goal is to create a vase-like structure that allows air and light to circulate freely, reducing the risk of disease.
Also, trim back the remaining healthy canes by one-third to one-half, ensuring you make the cuts at a 45-degree angle just above an outward-facing bud.
This is crucial as it “promotes the rose to grow outward” rather than inward, leading to a “lush, full shape filled with blossoms”.
Moreover, Marvin advised that gardeners remember sharp, clean tools are their “greatest helper” in preventing plant damage and diseases.
They also assured that with minimal effort, you could have a “stunning rose display that will be the highlight of the neighbourhood”.
