And what’s the difference between the two?
They not only improve the roses' appearance, but they also encourage new blooms.
Here’s what you’re gonna wanna know aboutwhen and howto deadhead and prune your roses.
Credit:Joos Mind/Getty
What’s the Difference?
Deadheading is done in the first year after the plant starts flowering.
Pruning is done once the plants are established, usually after the second year.
What Is Pruning?
Pruning maintains the plants shape and encourages new growth, thus more flowers.
Roses like to be pruned; they need to have their dead canes removed.
What Is Deadheading?
Deadheadingremoving spent blossomsencourages more blooms and results in a more attractive shrub.
If gardeners want rosehips, they should not deadhead.
There is no need to deadhead shrub or landscape roses, which are self-cleaning.
They also do not produce rosehips.
For bush roses that produce one rose per stem, cut down to five leaflets.
Also, cut just 1/4 inch above where the leaflet is where a bud eye is outward facing.
For a cluster flower key in, do not cut each individual flower.
Again, cut above an outward-facing bud eye.
Stop deadheading rose bushes with the onset of cold weather to let the plant enter the dormant stage.
This is about six weeks before the first frost in areas withcold wintersand true dormant periods.
Shrub or landscape roses do not need to be deadheaded.
It also encourages new growth.
Most roses typically have a six- to eight-week bloom cycle.
After blooming, they will rest and then develop new blooms that appear about six weeks later.
Deadheading helps the plant begin the new bloom cycle.
Newly planted roses should be watered every other day until established.
Once new growth appears, water the plant every week to support a healthy root system.
Illinois Extension.Managing Pests and Diseases.
