Rose Pruning For Fall And Winter Color

by Steve Boulden

Roses work great for a lot of different landscaping applications. In mass groups, single displays, climbers, and in many other ways, they can add a touch of class to the garden that only roses can. If you plan on planting some, it's important to keep in mind that they do need a little care and a periodic pruning.

The proper care, form, and abundance of continuous Rose blooms requires pruning. And generally, most folks do the cutting once a year in late winter or early spring which is the best time. However, most people, and even some advanced gardeners don't realize that a second season pruning in late summer is possible and can give roses new life and an abundance of blooms through the fall.

Cutting the flowers for display and cutting off spent blooms all season will encourage more blooms throughout the season. This is true for many different flowers you grow in your garden. However, for Roses, it doesn't generally re-create the mass flowering you get in spring after the initial pruning. A good second season cutting most times will. It can also help keep some spreading diseases in check.

While dead heading (cutting off spent blooms) all season will help keep more blooms forming, the best time for a second pruning is at the end of summer when the hottest days have gone. Depending on where you are and your climate, this would generally be in August or early September.

While some Roses will produce flowers all season, not all roses will produce a mass of second bloom. Most hybrid teas, Floribundas, and Grandifloras will generally give you great results from a second season cutting. However, don't prune climbers and Roses that bloom once in the spring. By this time of the year, they're already developing next years flowers.

Second season pruning isn't as drastic as winter pruning. Don't cut back major canes the same as you would in the spring. Leave them alone until spring. Instead, concentrate on bloom bearing branches. Cut these bearing branches back to about half their existing length to a point just above an outward facing bud.

After pruning, fertilize lightly and water well. A second light fertilizing two weeks after that and your roses are ready. In six to eight weeks you'll be well rewarded for your efforts. You'll have masses of blooms that will last well into the fall and depending on where you're at, even through the winter.

About the Author
Article from The Landscape Design Site which offers free home landscaping ideas, garden plans, pictures, and professional advice. For more landscaping and garden ideas visit his site at www.the-landscape-design-site.com.