Even if you have already cut back your roses in spring or autumn, you should use the scissors again in summer. Summer pruning is even more important than frequent cleaning, where only dead flowers are cut off, because it ensures strong and he althy second blooms.
How to cut roses correctly in summer?
Summer pruning of roses takes place immediately after they have completely bloomed. For noble and dwarf roses, cut back the withered shoots to the next five-leaf; for shrub roses, remove three to four leaves that have withered, and for climbing roses, cut out everything that has bloomed. Bypass rose scissors are best for a clean cut.
When does the summer cut take place?
Grab the scissors immediately after the flowers have completely faded.
How to cut?
This depends on what type of rose it is:
- For noble roses and dwarf roses, cut back the faded shoots to the next, well-developed five-leaf. You can shorten long-shooting varieties by around twenty centimeters. This means they don't grow too high and become unstable.
- In shrub roses, the vegetative shoots often grow too strong and thus obscure the rose petals. You can cut these branches back to just below the flowers before the buds open. Before actually cutting, wait until the rose has completely faded. For shrub roses that bloom multiple times, cut off the wilted ones with three to four leaves. Shrub roses that bloom once, on the other hand, are only lightly cut into shape.
- For climbing roses, cut out everything that has faded. If the rose already produces a lot of young shoots in the summer, you can 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?
Garden shears come in two versions: anvil and bypass shears. The bypass scissors (€9.00 on Amazon) are better suited for rose cutting, as they have two opposing cutting edges that run past each other, ensuring a clean, smooth cut.
High-quality rose scissors 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 rose scissors a little. This prevents rust from building up, which makes the scissors difficult to move.
Use the rose scissors only for cutting back plants and do not use them to open bags or even cut through plastic flower pots. This means the scissors stay sharp for a long time, which is essential for a clean cut.
Tip
In natural gardens you can let single-flowered shrub roses grow undisturbed for several years. Only dead wood and old shoots should be cut out. The rose bushes left alone provide shelter and food for a variety of birds and insects.
