How To Prune Roses In South Africa

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All roses benefit from pruning which gives you the opportunity to remove diseased wood and leaves resulting in better blooming and a healthier plant. In most areas, this can be done at the end of July but in colder areas like the Western Cape and Natal Midlands, it’s best to leave this until August. Keep in mind that light pruning after every flush will also invigorate the bush and promote flowering.

Below is How To Prune Roses In South Africa

Pruning roses step by step

1 Start by removing half to a third of the height of the rose bush – just bunch the stems together and cut them all the same height.

This way you can see all the branches and twigs from above, making it easier to decide how to proceed.

2 Reduce the number of branches. This makes room for new shoots and side shoots in spring.

3 Cut out all dead branches, twigs, and old wood. Old wood is usually woodier and darker in colour than young canes.

4 Cut off side shoots and branches that are growing towards the center of the plant. You want to create a cup shape with the number of branches inside the ‘cup’ greatly reduced. The final cut should be 5–10mm above an outward-facing node.

5 Friction wounds can be caused by branches that overlap so using your secateurs as a measure, leave 20–30cm between the remaining branches.

6 Remove the leaves that are left.

When should you prune roses in South Africa?

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When should I prune my roses? Throughout most of South Africa, Rose pruning should be left until late July/August.

This is when the days start to get longer and temperatures start rising which leads to new growth and a great time to shape and prune your roses.

Can I cut my rose bush to the ground?

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Roses should be cut to the ground only in winter, and only if the wood is seriously damaged or diseased and needs to be removed. That means when you cut into the stem, you are removing everything that is brown and withered, and making your cut where stems are still white and firm.