How to deadhead roses to keep them blooming
If your roses are starting to wilt or are showing brown petals, you need to know how to kill roses. Deadheading is essentially when you prune spent (wilting) or faded flowers to encourage new blooms and healthy growth. This simple process gets a rose bush to expend more energy on budding and blooming new roses instead of wasting it on dying roses or developing seeds.
Not knowing how to properly decapitate roses can encourage fungal infections that can lead to stem death. However, dead roses will keep your flowers in your garden tidy and more attractive, so it’s worth doing.
what will you need
handle secateurs
garden gloves
Container for disposal of the clippings
Much like knowing how to kill hydrangeas, killing roses won’t take time, and with these three simple steps, it couldn’t be easier. So if you want beautiful flowers all season long, here’s how to kill roses to make them bloom.
While you’re tending to your blooms, why not learn how to prune hydrangeas and lilacs while you’re at it.
How to deadhead roses
First identify the spent or wilted roses before you start cutting. This includes faded flowers or those with falling petals.
1. Identify the five-leaf hybrid
Once you’ve spotted your faded flower, look for the first set of five healthy leaves on the stem. This is known as a five leaf junction and this is where new growth will sprout. In addition, the rose bush already directs energy to this area through its many leaves. The correct way to top a rose is to cut just above a leaf base that has five or more leaves.
2. Cut off wilted roses
Next, cut 15cm above the strong healthy leaf base with one of the best secateurs. Be sure to use bypass shears instead of an anvil as these are designed for cutting live stalks.
When clearing, it is recommended to cut at a 45 degree angle and tilt it towards the ground. This will drain rain or sprinkler water off the scion, preventing bacteria or fungi from growing on it. Ideally, your next flowering shoot will grow out of the leaf joint.
3. Cut the rose bush
While you take care of the flowers, you can do that plum the rose bush further if necessary. Remove or cut back dead stems and leaves – this will encourage new growth and make the rose bush look tidier. Remove diseased branches that you spot by pruning back to a healthy branch.
Remember that there are different methods for different types of roses, so keep reading our guide how to cut roses for best results. Throw the dead roses and stems into the bin for your compost heap or garden waste.
When to decapitate roses
It’s always best to top off roses as soon as you see them beginning to fade or wilt. Individual flowers or clusters of roses may require a simultaneous kill. Once you are done, new flowers will appear as the energy is now channeled into making beautiful flowers.
They should stop dying by September and leave the faded flowers in place throughout the winter months. Then you can start pruning again in early spring.
For more outdoor tips, tricks, and guidance, check out our how-to guides on how to prune hydrangea, how to prune lilacs, and how to prune grapevines to encourage new growth.