If you are looking for a way to keep your roses looking their best, then pruning is an essential part of the process. Pruning standard roses is an art form, but there are a few simple guidelines to follow that will help you achieve the best results.
Pruning Standard Roses:
Start by removing any dead or diseased stems. You can do this with a pair of secateurs, loppers or shears. If there are any stems that are weak or spindly, you should remove them first as they can rob energy from the bush.
Next, determine which stems need to be trimmed back. Generally, you want to keep the overall shape of the bush intact and aim to cut back no more than one-third of the plant. Having said this, don’t be afraid to be quite brutal as any growth trimmed off will grow back as part of the plants natural cycle. Use sharp shears to make clean, angled cuts.
Small leaves on the plant usually indicate a lack of nutrients in the compost so don’t be afraid to get rid as this will help encourage new, better growth, and keep the plant looking healthy. When it comes to standard roses you will want to prune so that the foliage is in a lollipop shape.
Re-potting & Aftercare for roses:
Once you are done pruning the foliage and dead wood, you should repot the plant. To do this simply turn it upside down and ease the root ball out of the pot. Trimming any long trailing roots that you see is a good idea as this will encourage the plant to make new, more fibrous roots.
When you are done then add a little bit of fresh compost to the bottom of the pot. Some people at this stage like to add a bit of gravel or broken slate at the bottom to provide a bit of excess drainage. However, this is not necessary with modern composts such as our premium professional variety. Whatever you decide to add, when you are done place the plant root ball back in the pot.
Push some fresh compost down the sides so that the plant stands nice and straight. Then add a bit of compost on top and pat this down; don’t firm it up too much though, you don’t want to stop water from finding its way down to the roots.
An optional step is to add mulch on top. This is not absolutely necessary but will protect the roots from frost in winter, ensure that the roots stay nice and moist in drier times of the year and dissuade weeds from growing.
Finally, give the plant a good watering so that the soil is damp but not soaking.
By following these simple steps, you can keep your standard roses looking their best. Pruning is an important part of rose care, and it can help you achieve a beautiful and healthy plant for years to come!
When should I prune my roses?
As general rule, the best time to prune standard roses is between late winter and early spring.
This will give them enough time to establish new growth ahead of the main growing season.
However, this is not always the case and if it doubt, it is always best to consult the care instructions provided with the plant or on the retailers website.
Key Points:
• Small leaves and dead wood indicate that the soil is lacking nutrients, a sign you should re-pot.
• Don’t be afraid to hack away! Plants are programmed to grow back even stronger.
• Mulch is not needed but will help protect the plant in many ways.
• Pat down the soil at the end but don’t over-firm it.
• Water well and keep maintained throughout the year to get the best results!
Further Advice:
For advice on types of roses and planting tips, visit our other guide here.
