Last night we had our first proper frost this Autumn, which considering it's the 12th November just goes to show how mild the weather has been here in the Brecon Beacons and all over the UK in general. With this first frost showing up I know that many gardeners will be turning their thoughts to rose pruning before the days get shorter and the cold, wet weather really sets in.
So, when is the best time to prune roses in the UK?
In our experience it's best to prune roses February to early April when the plants are just starting to wake up from their winter dormancy. While there was a traditional belief that gardeners should wait for three consecutive nights of frost before pruning rose bushes, modern horticultural practices have evolved to focus more on the plant's growth cycle and health rather than strict adherence to frost patterns.
The only thing to consider at this time of year is if you garden in a coastal or windy area, then we recommend you give your rose plants a light haircut in November to avoid 'wind-rock' when the late autumn and winter storms roll in. To do this, just cut approximately a third off the height off your rose bush. It doesn't need to be anything fancy or complicated at this stage - you can even use a hedgetrimmer and just swipe off the growth. This should reduce any potential 'wind-rock' and subsequent root disturbance during those winter storms.
We often do this in late November due to our location - we're 900-1000ft above sea level and the winds come howling through our rose fields. A light haircut does seem to help. Not to mention it's easier to remove branches with leaves on then collect all the fallen leaves from the ground later in winter.
Then come February you can give your rose bushes a good check over and another 'prune' to improve the shape of the plant and to remove the three Ds - Dead, Diseased, Damaged. By removing dead or diseased wood, crossing branches, and weak growth, gardeners can help prevent issues such as fungal diseases and overcrowding within the plant. But I'll cover the pruning process in another post just in time for 'pruning season.'
So why is it there a small 6-8 week window for pruning roses?
Pruning during late winter or early spring aligns with the growth cycle of roses, which start to awaken from dormancy as days lengthen and temperatures gradually rise. For instance, average minimum temperatures in the UK start to rise above freezing around mid-March. By pruning just before this growth burst, you enable your roses to direct their energy toward new growth and blooms.
Pruning too early could expose your plants to late frosts, while pruning too late risks harming new growth. By removing dead or diseased wood, crossing branches, and weak growth, gardeners can help prevent issues such as fungal diseases and overcrowding within the plant.
Why is it important to prune my roses and should I even bother?
You may not be the first to wonder about this, but the simple answer is... Yes. To encourage more flowers! This is, after all, the main reason why we enjoy growing roses. Without the flowers, a rose plant would just be a thorny dull addition to the garden.
So, for the time being, don't stress about pruning your roses. There are plenty of other gardening tasks to focus on in November and December, like planting more roses!
And let's not forget about all those delightful plant and seed catalogues to browse through while relaxing in a cozy chair with a cup of tea.
Rose pruning can wait for now!
Happy Gardening!
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