The experienced gardener understands the term “dog rose” to mean not just one, but various types of wild roses, all of which are quite robust in their properties and bloom profusely. The bushes are also very vigorous and are not only suitable for solitary planting, but especially for dense hedge planting. Such a wild rose hedge requires little care and hardly needs any pruning.
How do I cut a dog rose correctly?
A dog rose is mainly cut by thinning, in which diseased, damaged or disturbing shoots are removed. A more radical pruning should be done approximately every four to five years in order to rejuvenate the dog rose. Always cut in late autumn and on frost-free days.
Thinning is better than cropping
Dog roses usually bloom not on this year's shoots, but on the two-year-old shoots. For this reason, pruning should be done very carefully so that you do not accidentally deprive yourself of the blossoms you were hoping for. In any case, pruning is basically not necessary or only necessary every few years, because a simple thinning cut is usually sufficient for the dog rose.
When thinning out, all diseased, damaged, bare or otherwise disturbing branches and shoots should be removed, except for this year's. The new shoots should be left on the bush as they will bear the new flowers the following year. If possible, this cut should be carried out after the leaves have fallen in late autumn (but before the first frost!), although you should of course immediately cut away diseased or dead branches all year round.
Rejuvenate the dog rose through radical pruning
However, more radical pruning may be necessary approximately every four to five years, as the dog rose becomes bald over time and produces fewer flowers. Rejuvenation is therefore necessary, in which the dog rose is cut back by around a quarter to a half. Make sure to always cut about five millimeters above an outward-facing eye or new shoot and always make the cut at a slight angle. This cut should ideally be carried out on a frost-free day in late autumn.
Rules for pruning
So that your dog rose can cope well with the pruning and continue to grow more vigorously, you should follow the following pruning rules:
- Cut only with freshly sharpened and cleaned tools.
- Disinfection with high-percentage alcohol prevents germs from penetrating.
- Be sure to wear gloves when cutting to avoid injury from the thorns.
- Keep the cut surfaces slightly slanted, then the wounds will heal better.
- Larger cuts should be treated with a wound closure agent.
- Dead and diseased wood is removed and disposed of immediately - but not in the compost!
- Cut back old wood regularly to keep the shrub young.
Tip
There is a good motto for pruning not only dog roses: Always cut back weak shoots heavily, but only lightly cut back strong shoots.
