Even if you have already cut back your roses in spring or autumn, you should reach for the scissors again in summer. The summer pruning is even more important than frequent trimming, which only cuts off faded flowers, because it ensures a strong and healthy second bloom.
Roses are pruned immediately after flowering
When is the summer pruning done?
Grab your scissors as soon as the flowers have completely faded.
How is it cut?
This depends on the type of rose it is:
- With hybrid tea and dwarf roses, cut back the faded shoots to the next, well-formed five-leaf. Long-shooting varieties can be shortened by about twenty centimeters. As a result, they do not grow too high and unstable.
- In the case of shrub roses, the vegetative shoots often push through too much and thus cover the rose blossoms. You can cut these branches back just below the blossoms before the buds open. Wait until the rose has completely faded before you start pruning. In the case of shrub roses that bloom several times, cut off the withered part with three to four leaves. Shrub roses that bloom once, on the other hand, are only slightly cut into shape.
- For climbing roses, cut out everything that has faded. If the rose produces many young shoots in summer, you can also shorten them without hesitation. Alternatively, it has proven useful to simply bend the shoots downwards and insert them between the old shoots.
Which rose scissors are suitable?
Secateurs (€17.82) come in two styles: anvil and bypass shears. Bypass scissors are better suited for cutting roses, as they have two opposing blades that run past each other to ensure a clean, smooth cut.
A good quality pair of rose shears will last for many years provided they are properly cared for. Clean the scissors thoroughly after work. If you have cut back diseased roses, you should also disinfect the tool.
Occasionally oil the pruning shears a little. This prevents rust from forming, which makes the scissors stiff.
Only use the rose scissors to cut back plants and do not use them to open sacks or even cut through plastic flower pots. This keeps the scissors sharp for a long time, which is essential for a clean cut.
tips
In gardens that are close to nature, you can let single-flowering shrub roses grow undisturbed for several years. Only deadwood and old shoots should be cut out. Left alone, the rose bushes provide shelter and food for a variety of birds and insects.