This Sweet Holiday Is The Perfect Time To Prune Your Roses

For many people, Valentine's Day is a time to give and receive roses and chocolate with the one you love, but for gardeners in certain regions, Valentine's Day and roses have an entirely different relationship. Yes, if you have a rose garden in a warmer climate, Valentine's Day means it's time to prune. Generally, any heavy pruning is done before a rose bush breaks its dormancy, and for many gardeners, that means early spring, around March or April. However, in southern states which consist largely of USDA Hardiness zones 8 through 9, winters are typically mild, and this romantic holiday is the perfect reminder to get outside and start prepping the roses for spring.

Of course there are other factors to consider. Before you head outside with your pruning shears, make sure you know exactly what roses you are dealing with. While many roses benefit from a hard pruning in late winter or early spring, other beautiful rose varieties require no pruning at all. Still others, like spring-blooming climbers, should not be pruned until after they bloom. For hybrid roses, though, which bloom on new growth, Valentine's Day may be the perfect time to cut the shrubs back. Many old-fashioned roses bloom on old wood, so prune wisely. For a winter pruning, cutting back any dead or diseased wood, while also thinning out the center mass should do the trick. 

While many people in warm areas can prune roses around Valentine's Day, nature doesn't operate on a strict schedule. To determine if you can prune, first look for new growth. New leaves signal that your plant is out of its dormancy period and you should proceed with more caution. If your roses are still hidden under snow in February, it may be better to wait until the forsythia blooms in your area – a common rule that many gardeners abide by. Once you see that bright yellow harbinger of spring, you can get to work in your rose garden.

No matter what kind of roses you have, there are a few universal tips to adhere to. Dead and diseased wood should always get the axe – or in this case, the shears. Next on the chopping block are crossing canes, stems that shoot out from the base of the plant. Canes rubbing against each other can introduce a place for disease to creep in. When trimming back a healthy cane, cut about ¼ inch above a cluster of five leaves. You will also want to angle your cut to point downward so that water can run off the plant. How much you cut back will be determined by the type of roses you have, though most roses can handle being cut back by about one-third. If you don't yet have an established rose garden, early spring is a great time to consider adding these stunning roses to your garden. You can also explore companion plants to grow with your roses for a garden that's weed-free and beautiful.