May Rose Care

Roses are starting to bloom across NC and that means deadheading will soon begin! Deadheading is removing the spent blooms from your roses, and we deadhead to promote more BLOOMS! So, let's get those pruners out and talk about deadheading and cutting blooms for the kitchen table!

Why Should I Deadhead? 

✂ To promote new growth and new blooms

✂ Tidy up your rose bush and keep taller bushes from getting too tall [especially late in the season]

✂ Deter the Japanese Beetles from coming into your garden 

✂ Reduce water loss through spent blooms

How to Deadhead: 

✂  Locate an outward facing five leaflet down the stem; cut at a 45 degree angle just above [approx. 1/4"]

✂ Later in the season choose a five leaflet further down the stem always choosing an outward facing bud.

✂ Cut 1/4" above a 5 leaflet at a 45 degree angle 

How Do I Cut Blooms to Enjoy? 

✂ Choose a blossom that is tight but that the sepals [the green outer petals] have completely opened 

✂ Find an outward facing 5 leaflet and cut at a 45-degree angle just above

✂ Stems will be shorter in the early part of the season and longer in the later part of the season 

✂ For best results put the stems directly into water and add a floral preservative to help extend the life of your cut rose