Once the first round of blooms has faded, it’s time to give your roses a little extra care to keep them flowering all season long. Pruning after the first bloom helps roses stay healthy and encourages them to produce more flowers. Removing spent blooms, shaping the plant, and cutting away weak growth allows the plant to focus its energy on new buds.
Deadheading is the most important step in post-bloom pruning. This means cutting off faded flowers before they turn into seed pods. If left on the plant, seed pods take up energy that could be used for new flowers. To deadhead, cut the spent bloom just above a set of five healthy leaves. This tells the plant to keep producing flowers instead of slowing down.
While deadheading, it’s also a good time to check for any damaged or diseased stems. Removing weak, broken, or diseased branches helps improve air circulation and keeps the plant strong. If any stems are crossing over each other and rubbing together, it’s best to remove one to prevent damage. A well-shaped rose bush allows sunlight to reach all parts of the plant, which helps prevent disease.
Climbing roses and some old-fashioned varieties may need different pruning methods. Instead of cutting off spent flowers, climbers benefit from light shaping to encourage more blooms. Some once-blooming varieties only flower on old wood, so pruning them too much may reduce next year’s flowers. Learning the growth habit of each type of rose helps in knowing the best pruning method.
After pruning, giving roses a boost with fertilizer helps them recover and prepare for the next round of blooms. A balanced rose fertilizer or an organic option like composted manure replenishes nutrients lost during flowering. Watering deeply after fertilizing ensures the nutrients soak into the soil where the roots can absorb them.
Pruning after the first bloom is a simple but important way to keep roses looking their best. With regular deadheading, shaping, and feeding, roses will continue to bloom beautifully throughout the summer, bringing color and fragrance to the garden.