Autumn rose pruning

Rose flower affected by the powdery mildew

The term “deadheading” refers to the procedure of cutting off dried, faded flowers from a rose plant. This procedure applies to all classes of roses, from hybrid teas, floribundas, ramblers, and even wild rose varieties and is carried out to prevent the formation of fruit (rose hips). However, if you want to deliberately decorate your garden or home with beautiful rose hips, this procedure does not need to be carried out. Moreover, there are many species and varieties of roses whose hips are no less beautiful than the flowers and sometimes even more beautiful.

Rose hips of Rosa canina or 'dog rose'

When the faded flowers eventually turn into rose hips, which are the fruits of roses, the rose slows down the growth of the bush. Accordingly, during the rest of the season, it will bloom less. However, it can even be beneficial for roses in autumn, especially in regions with cold winters (USDA climate zones 6 and below) where temperatures can drop below 10° - 12° C. The development of rose hips actually reduces plant growth and helps roses prepare for winter.

At the same time, there is an exception to this rule, and in some cases it is still necessary to cut the faded blooms

Rose flower affected by the powdery mildew

In autumn, the temperature drops and rains become more frequent. The faded petals that remain on the rose bushes turn from a growth inhibitor into a breeding ground for diseases. Powdery mildew and its causative agents, fungi such as Sphaerotheca pannos, Bremia, Peronospora, and Phytophthora begin to actively develop on the blossoms. Since the weather becomes very favorable for the development of fungi, diseases begin to move from the blossom to the entire rose plant, affecting the buds that have not yet opened (if there are), leaves, and stems. Accordingly, forming spores, the disease hibernates together with the rose and damages the plant even more next season.

To prevent the spread of rose diseases, prune and snip off the petals that have faded and become wet or frozen but remained on the rose. This especially applies to tea-hybrid and florist varieties whose flowers are densely packed with petals and varieties that are naturally poorly cleaned off their petals.

In no case should you simply throw the petals down under the plant, as this will simply transfer the diseases to winter on the ground.

Rose flower affected by the powdery mildew

Sometimes during the early autumn there are spring frosts that damage not only the opened flowers, but sometimes also the buds and newly formed rose hips. This especially applies to varieties with weak winter resistance. Even if we leave the rosehip to restrain the autumn’s growth trying by this to send a signal to the rose that it should stop actively growing, the frozen rosehip will not be sending any signals. Their tissues are already damaged by the frost, it does not receive any nutrition, and does not restrain the active growth in autumn, that some are afraid of so much.

In such cases, the frosts themselves and the days which are getting shorter, have already signaled to the rose that it is time to prepare for winter. And frozen, young and unformed fruits become only a breeding ground for fungal diseases. Therefore, they should also be pruned and removed from the plants. It is best to remove the petals from the plant and dispose of them properly. This will help keep your garden healthy and disease-free.