Pruning Roses in the Summer – A Complete Guide

Pruning roses in the summer can seem daunting for many gardeners. Roses are seen as finicky, high maintenance plants. However, with the right techniques and tools, pruning roses in the summer is an easy task that will keep your roses healthy and blooming beautifully all season long. In this complete guide, we will cover when, how, and why to prune roses in the summer.

Why Prune Roses in Summer?

Pruning roses in the summer serves a few key purposes:

• Deadheading – Removing spent blooms encourages new blooms Deadheading redirects the plant’s energy into producing more flowers instead of seeds,

• Promoting growth – Light summer pruning removes weak growth and shapes the plant leading to stronger new growth.

• Disease and pest prevention – Removing dead damaged, or infected plant parts helps prevent the spread of disease and pests like black spot mildew, and aphids.

• Aesthetics – Pruning keeps rose plants looking tidy and attractive.

When to Prune Roses in Summer

Summer pruning should be light. The main pruning happens in late winter or early spring when roses are dormant.

• Deadhead flowers after they fade, throughout the summer.

• Lightly trim back stems after a flush of blooms, removing spent flower heads.

• Conduct light shaping and maintenance pruning as needed, removing dead or damaged stems.

• Stop extensive pruning 6-8 weeks before your first expected fall frost.

How to Prune Roses in Summer

Follow these simple steps for pruning roses in summer:

Gather Your Tools

• Bypass hand pruners or rose snips
• Garden gloves
• Trash bag for debris
• Sanitizing spray (1 part bleach to 9 parts water)

Deadhead Spent Blooms

• Cut back each spent bloom just above where it joins the stem. Make the cut at a 45 degree angle.

Trim Back Stems

• Find a stem that has finished flowering. Identify 5 leaflets on the stem below spent bloom.

• Make a diagonal cut just above those 5 leaflets to encourage new growth.

Remove Dead or Damaged Stems

• Cut out any dead, diseased, or damaged stems back to healthy growth.

• Remove stems that rub or cross over each other.

• Discard all debris to prevent disease.

Shape and Maintain

• Conduct any light shaping or corrective pruning.

• Remove unwanted suckers sprouting below the graft union.

• Cut 1/3 or less of overall growth.

Sanitize Tools

• Disinfect pruners between each plant with sanitizing spray.

Tips for Summer Rose Pruning

• Prune in the morning on a dry, sunny day.

• Use sharp, clean bypass pruners or rose snips.

• Make cuts at a 45 degree angle, just above a leaf node.

• Seal any large cuts with glue or pruning sealant.

• Remove all debris from around plants after pruning.

• Water roses deeply the day before pruning.

• Wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning roses.

• Monitor for pests like aphids and diseases.

• Fertilize and mulch roses after pruning.

Common Rose Pruning Mistakes

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when pruning roses in summer:

• Pruning too late in the season, risking frost damage to new growth.

• Making cuts too close to the stem without leaving some stem below.

• Leaving piles of debris under plants that can lead to disease.

• Using dull pruners that crush or tear stems.

• Overpruning, removing too much growth.

• Failing to disinfect tools between plants.

• Pruning during the heat of day, causing stress.

Pruning Different Types of Roses

While techniques are generally the same, pruning requirements can vary slightly among different classes of roses.

Large-Flowered Roses

• Mostly hybrid teas and floribundas.

• Produce flowers primarily on new wood of the current season.

• Bloom continuously with deadheading through summer and fall.

• Prune in early spring, removing old stems back to 12-18 inches.

Old Garden Roses

• Heirloom varieties blooming once per season on old and new wood.

• Prune after flowering, cutting oldest stems near ground.

• Remove no more than 1/3 of growth.

Climbing Roses

• Vigorous growing climbers.

• Bloom on old and new wood.

• Prune in early spring.

• Remove dead or damaged growth anytime.

Shrub and Landscape Roses

• Hardy, low maintenance bush roses.

• Bloom primarily on old wood.

• Prune after first flush of blooms passes by 1/3 to shape.

While roses require attentive care, with proper technique, tools, and timing, pruning roses in summer is an easy task for any gardener. Conduct light shaping and deadheading prunes to keep roses blooming prolifically into fall. Always prune with clean, sharp tools and sanitize between plants. Discard all cut debris. Stop extensive pruning at least 6 weeks before your first fall frost. With just a little routine pruning care, your roses will thrive through the summer and beyond.

While major pruning of roses is best left for late winter or early spring, light summer pruning is generally acceptable and can even benefit roses, especially repeat bloomers. Deadheading spent flowers to encourage more blooms and removing dead or diseased canes are common summer pruning practices.

To encourage more blooms on a rose bush, prune it during late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Focus on removing dead, damaged, and diseased wood, and then thin out crowded stems.