Attention Points for Pruning Roses in Winter
A comprehensive explanation of the attention points for pruning roses in winter, knowledge about green plants and flowers, which will surely be helpful to you. Let's get to know them together!
In the past two days, it has been too hot, and many flower friends have asked, with the temperature so high, when can we prune the roses in winter? For areas with frost, now to early February is a good time for pruning. Although the temperature in the next few days is still relatively high, most roses have entered dormancy now, and the temperature from next week to the end of the month will be relatively low, which is very suitable for pruning and repotting roses.
Attention Points for Pruning Roses in Winter
Winter pruning of roses is to ensure better blooming in spring and maintain a good plant shape. There are several points that need special attention before pruning roses in winter.
1. - Pruning time varies by region -
Different regions have different climates, so the pruning time for roses in winter will also vary greatly. In most areas with frost, pruning can be done from mid-January to early February; in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and other regions, roses do not enter dormancy in winter, so they should not be pruned heavily; in the cold northern regions, spring comes late, and winter pruning of roses should also be appropriately postponed, pruning can be done from late February to before March when the plants start to sprout.
2. - Control water before pruning -
Shrub roses are pruned heavily in winter. If the roses have not fully entered dormancy or the soil is particularly moist, the plant may easily show signs of bleeding after heavy pruning. Therefore, it is recommended to control watering in advance for shrub roses before heavy pruning, and prune when the potting soil is half-dry.
If the roses have not shed their leaves but have stopped growing, and it is uncertain whether they have entered dormancy, and if you want to prune heavily, it is recommended to remove all leaves 3-5 days in advance. If the plant has not entered dormancy, it will be forced into dormancy after the leaves are removed.
3. - Prune on sunny days -
Winter pruning of roses should be done on consecutive sunny days. Do not prune during cloudy or rainy days to avoid infection at the cut ends, which can cause black rot of branches or withering of buds. It is better to prune in the morning or at noon, as the wounds will dry faster.
4. - Control the expected target and pruning amplitude -
How much should be cut during heavy pruning of roses? Many flower friends are confused about where to cut their roses.
In fact, winter pruning of roses is not complicated. To put it simply, if you prune too heavily, there will be fewer flowers in spring, but the branches will be stronger, while if you prune lightly, there will be more flowers in spring, but the branches will be weaker, and the plant height will be higher.
The conventional operation for winter pruning of shrub roses in pots is to cut off 1/2 to 2/3 of the total height. We can decide the pruning height based on our requirements for flowering and plant shape after pruning, as well as the specific growth condition of our roses.
For most shrub rose varieties, pruning off 1/2 to 2/3 of the height is acceptable. However, for very tall shrub roses, you can deviate from this standard and prune according to your own preferences.
For example, for the large shrub rose 'Hong Shuangxi', if grown in a pot, we usually control the height and prune more heavily in winter, leaving about 20 cm. But if planted in the ground with ample growth space, we can leave it taller, about 40-50 cm. Keeping more branches will result in more flowers in spring, and with proper care, the canopy will increase year by year, and it can be trained into a flowering tree.
For varieties with strong growth, pruning is more flexible, while for weaker varieties like the Yves series, it is advisable to prune lightly and keep more branches to achieve more flowers.
5. - Avoid watering immediately after pruning -
Since shrub roses have been water-controlled before pruning, many friends feel that the potting soil is dry and will water immediately after pruning. However, this can easily cause bleeding. It is recommended to water 2-3 days after pruning. Since the temperature is low in winter and the roses are dormant with pruned branches, their water demand is not high, so waiting for 2 days will not cause drought.
6. - Which comes first, pruning or repotting? -
Many flower friends are纠结 about whether to prune first or repot first. In fact, for roses that have entered dormancy, it is fine to do either first, or both at the same time. When repotting, it is recommended to use moist soil and water the plants with a settling water the day after repotting.
For friends who grow many roses, due to the large workload, you can repot and fertilize first after entering winter and then prune when it's time, dividing the work to make it easier. Of course, if you want to prune first and then repot, that's also fine. Just arrange according to your schedule, there's no need to worry too much.
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