Dead-heading is the process of removing spent blooms to encourage new growth and more flowers. After each flush of roses, prune the spent flower head just above the first set of five leaflets. Cutting on a 45 degree angle above an outward facing leaflet set is ideal to encourage new growth to develop outward, but don’t overthink it. As you prune, keep in mind the overall shape of the shrub. Dead-heading is also an opportunity to tidy and balance a rose plant as you go.
Occasionally a rose will grow one or two very tall canes, often with multiple buds in a branching form, referred to as a candelabra. These make for beautiful clusters of blooms but can cause the plant to look uneven. Dead-heading is a great opportunity to reduce the height of those candelabras and even out all the canes. If the height difference of your candelabra to the rest of the plant is extreme, you can bring the height of those specific canes down just a little bit lower than the rest of your shrub. Creating a rounded and balanced shape to the bush will promote faster, stronger reblooming by allowing nutrient rich sap to be more evenly distributed.
It is also worth noting that using clean, sharp pruners makes a real difference. Clean cuts heal more quickly and reduce the risk of introducing disease to the plant. A quick wipe of your blades between plants is a good habit to carry through the whole growing season.
Dead-heading benefits continuous, repeat-blooming and once-blooming roses alike. However, if the variety produces rosehips that you would like to enjoy in the fall and winter months, do not dead-head these varieties after their final (or only) bloom of the season. Rosehips add seasonal interest to the garden and are a valuable food source for birds through the colder months. Some varieties of rosehips are also very flavourful for making jams and jellies.
Since dead-heading spurs on new growth, it is recommended to stop approximately 6-8 weeks before your garden zone’s first predicted frost. This helps encourage the rose to slow down naturally and begin heading toward dormancy which is important for its winter hardiness and long term health. Pushing new tender growth too late in the season leaves it vulnerable to frost damage before it has had a chance to harden off.
A little bit of care and attention goes a long way. Regular dead-heading through the season will reward you generously with more blooms, a tidier plant and the quiet pleasure of time well spent in the garden.
