how to prune roses

About now’s the time we all start getting out of the house to clean and prune our roses. And just in time, Tesselaar’s very own easy-care gardening star – Flower Carpet® roses – couldn’t make it simpler. That’s why they’re the star of a new video on that very topic.

"Flower Carpet roses are one of the best roses to grow in the garden," says Growing Wisdom.com host David Epstein in his new video, "Pruning Flower Carpet roses."  And pruning them in early spring, he says, will help keep them blooming all season long.

Here are a couple highlights from the video, but since pruning is such a visual thing, I really recommend you watch the video:

Pruning

"Flower Carpet roses are so easy," says Epstein in the video.  "Just get a pair of hedge shears and go ‘clip, clip, clip.’"

Then, he says, cut the bush back to half to one-third its size in late winter just before the beginning of new spring growth.

A heavy cut back, he explains, encourages the plant to bush out, so there’s no harm in it.  "The important thing to note is that because of Flower Carpet’s full, branching habit,  there’s no need at all for fussy pruning."

 Cleaning

When you clean the beds, says Epstein, pull and rake away the dead leaves. "Flower Carpet doesn’t get powdery mildew, but it’s still a good habit to clean around plants. It also just looks nicer."

Mulching

"I recommend putting some mulch around the base of the plants to keep out weeds and conserve moisture," says Epstein. "Any mulch you choose will work well."

Feeding

"Generally, you should fertilize in spring as the first buds start developing," says Epstein in the video. "You can use rose food or any good extended-release fertilizer." This should be done again in early summer, he notes. "It’s best not to give any plant food from late summer onwards, especially in cooler areas."

Epstein has also created several other videos starring Flower Carpet roses, such as "Mass-Planting Flower Carpet roses" and "Planting Flower Carpet roses," both available at the Tesselaar and Growing Wisdom web sites.

Do you have any advice to give or questions to ask about pruning roses? Just post in it the Comments section!