DEADHEADING: Roses bloom from late May through October. Spent flowers need to be pruned (aka “deadheaded”) to promote continuous blooming. When a spent bloom is pruned, a new stem breaks from a leaf joint. Prune the stem (aka “cane”) just above a leaf joint.
SPRING PRUNING: Here in the Pacific NW, the President’s Day holiday serves as a good reminder date since we are most likely free from any more hard freezes. So, grab your pruners and take your rose bushes down to a height of 18”-24,” cutting the canes just above the nearest healthy dormant bud. Keep as many healthy canes as possible, but remove any smaller than a pencil diameter. Remove any crossing canes and aim to open out the center of the bush. Finish off the job with a top dressing of organic compost. And then, await your reward of beautiful blooms in three months or less!
