Rose bushes are bushes that have very decorative flowers, but for them to sprout we have to prune them. And it is that if we did not do it, there will come a time that it would produce smaller leaves than they should be and not a single flower. For this reason, it is necessary to have pruning shears in the drawer, since that way we can use them with our rose bushes grown in pots.
And we should not worry, because to do it correctly we only need to know some characteristics of the plants. But before that, let's talk about when to prune potted roses.
What is the best time to prune potted roses?
Rose bushes are plants that are growing from spring to late summer. If the weather is mild or warm, they continue to do so until autumn or even early winter, as they do in some parts of the Mediterranean region, for example. But also, they bloom for several months in a row, so we will have to choose well the moment to prune them so there are no problems.
But not only that, but we also have to know that there are several types of pruning, and that they are done at different times. For example, there is training pruning and/or rejuvenation which is done at the end of winter when the plant has not yet resumed its growth; the pinched, which are small cuts of the stems which are made, if necessary, throughout the year; and finally there is the flower pruning which consists of removing withered flowers.
These three prunings will not always have to be done; in fact, the normal thing is that only the training one is practiced and the dried flowers are removed. In some cases, if the rosebush is very young, the only thing that can be done is to remove the withered roses.
What tools are needed to prune rose bushes?
Surely, without knowing it, you have things that will help you to prune the rose bushes. Of course, there are pruning tools like handsaws, anvil shears, and so on, but when we talk about potted roses, we usually mean relatively small plants, so I don't think you need to buy anything. Of course, if your plant is already moderately adult, as its stems will be thick, you will have to spend a little money. These are the tools you need:
- Household scissors: like kitchen ones for example. These will serve to cut the green and thin stems, as well as the wilted flowers and suckers.
- Anvil scissors: If the stems are 0,5cm or more, you will need to use these scissors to prune them. you can buy them here.
- Hand saw or small handsaw: To trim or remove woody branches. get it now.
Of course, always keep in mind that they must be clean and disinfected before use to prevent them from contracting an infection.
How do you prune potted rose bushes?
The steps to follow will depend on the type of pruning that is going to be done, for example:
flower pruning
This consists, as its name suggests, in removing the flowers. We recommend removing them when they are already ugly, that is, when there are few petals left to fall. We will take scissors and cut about 2 to 5 centimeters of stem depending on its total length. For example, if the branch measures 40cm, we will count about 5cm from the top of the flower down.
Training/rejuvenation pruning
It is a pruning with which it is intended to rejuvenate the plant. It is also used to give it a style or shape. For this reason, pacifiers must be removed, which are those green stems that sprout from the base of the stems, and also those that are growing a lot must be cut.
For this, domestic scissors will be used, or, if it is about branches that have a thickness of 0,5cm or more, a small handsaw. The cut will be made above a bud, that is, above a protuberance or lump that is on the branch. But how much should be cut?
If the branch measures, for example, about 40cm, 10 or 15 centimeters will be cut. It could even be made even shorter, about 20 centimeters high, but no more.
Pinching or maintenance pruning
This is a very and, too. It basically consists of trimming a little (about 2-4 centimeters) the branches that are overgrown. Tender, green branches are trimmed so that sap loss is very low.
It can be done with domestic scissors without problems, but it is important that they are disinfected before and after using them so that problems do not arise.
The pruning of the rosebush is a task that has to be done every year so that it grows well and flourishes. Therefore, we hope that what we have discussed here will be useful to you.