Edith Hejberg
One simple task done now will keep your roses producing vibrant blooms all summer long.
If your roses are looking tired, brown, or crispy, there’s an easy fix. Gardening expert Adam Kirtland, known online as View From The Potting Bench, says one simple task done now will keep your roses producing vibrant blooms all summer long.
Why Timing Matters
Kirtland stresses that acting now is key. Roses naturally shift their energy into making seeds once their flowers fade.
If you intervene at the right moment, you can redirect that energy into producing more flowers instead, extending your rose season dramatically.
The Must-Do Task: Pruning
The crucial step is pruning specifically, deadheading faded blooms. This prevents the plant from wasting energy on seed production.
Done correctly, it will spark fresh growth and trigger another wave of blooms, often even bigger and better than before.
Spotting the Right Blooms to Cut
Look for flowers whose petals fall away easily when touched, these are ready for deadheading. Avoid cutting blooms that are still firm and fresh.
Roses with slightly crispy petals can be trimmed if you choose, but the main focus should be on fully spent flowers.
How to Prune the Right Way
Find the faded flower and follow its stem down until you reach the first set of five leaves. Cut just above this point.
This is where the plant’s new flowering growth will emerge. Repeat this little-and-often throughout summer to keep roses looking lush.
The Payoff for Your Effort
By consistently deadheading in this way, your roses will stay healthier, produce more blooms, and avoid the dull, brown look that signals the end of flowering.
It’s a small habit that brings weeks even months of extra beauty to your garden.
