Roses are a timeless and stunning addition to any garden, lighting up outdoor spaces with their remarkable range of colours. Many gardeners may have already noticed their roses beginning to flower, and there is a straightforward task that anybody can carry out to encourage the plant to continue producing larger and more impressive blooms throughout the summer and into early autumn.
The Simple Two-Step Task
All gardeners need to do is give their roses a light trim, a process known as deadheading. It is actually surprisingly straightforward and need not take up a great deal of time. However, gardening expert and TikTok creator Michael Griffiths has claimed that a significant number of gardeners are actually going about deadheading their roses the wrong way. It is not simply a case of snipping off the faded and wilting rose heads.
There is a second step that countless people tend to overlook, and it is this crucial stage that prompts roses to produce further blooms. In a recent video, Michael said: "Do you know there are two steps to deadheading roses, but most people stop at step one."
Step One: Remove Faded Blooms
The initial stage of the deadheading process involves removing those roses that are beginning to look a little past their best. Gardeners will need to identify which roses are in need of attention. These flowers will appear spent, look wilted, or may even be starting to lose their colour. Simply cut away the rose head at the base where it meets the stem. This process can be applied to individual blooms that have faded, while leaving any remaining flowers intact.
Step Two: Cut Above Five Leaves
Michael explained that the second stage of deadheading is the crucial step that encourages roses to flourish repeatedly throughout the summer months, and is one that should not be overlooked. When dealing with a cluster of roses, you need to locate where it ends. Then, trace the stem downwards to identify where the next set of five leaves appears - and it must be five. Proceed by cutting the stem just above this cluster of leaves. This helps redirect energy away from those flowers and buds that have died off. Michael said: "Now you have a stronger bud which encourages more flowers."
Additional Tips for Healthy Roses
Allow the buds to bloom until they fade, only then can you deadhead above the five leaves. A thorough pruning of your roses will not be necessary until later in the year. On occasion, it may be possible to deadhead individual roses simply by pinching off the wilted flower. An added benefit of deadheading roses is that it lessens the likelihood of fungal infections developing.
The earlier you deadhead the roses, the quicker new blooms will emerge, as the energy being consumed by the spent rose will be channelled towards the buds, ultimately producing fresh flowers. Deadheading will also contribute to keeping your rose bushes looking neat and tidy.
Expert Advice from the Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society advises that deadheading plants on a regular basis is best practice, regardless of the time of year. The RHS explained: "Gently snap the faded flowers off hybrid tea roses, breaking the stalk just below the head. This method encourages more blooms more quickly compared to cutting with secateurs. For other roses, snip off individual flowers or clusters of flowers down to just above the next leaf."
The organisation also offered a handy tip to prevent rose petals from dropping too early. The RHS added: "The petals of rose flowers become loose as they age, so to prevent them going everywhere when you deadhead, cup each flower in your hand before you cut through the stalk."
