The low-growing small shrub roses require special pruning. We'll show you when and how to properly prune ground cover roses.
Roses (Pink) can also be an attractive form of ground cover in the garden. Ground cover roses are usually relatively robust and easy to care for. In contrast to perennials that cover the ground, however, roses do not form runners, which is why the same varieties are often offered for sale as small shrub roses. For optimal ground cover, short-growing varieties with long shoots are usually planted in groups close together. The rose bush will finally thank you for pruning with rich flowering and sprawling growth. In this article, we will explain in more detail what you need to consider when pruning low-growing roses.
In the following we will give you tips on when you should ideally prune groundcover roses and how best to do it.
When should you prune groundcover roses?
You don't have to cut groundcover roses every year, but the right time is crucial for success. Like most other roses, ground cover roses should be pruned in early spring (March/April) when no more severe frosts are to be expected and, ideally, they are still before new growth. To choose the right time, you can use the beginning of flowering forsythia (Forsythia × intermedia) as a guide. In milder regions, however, it is still possible to cut back in autumn. A pruning every three to four years should be completely sufficient in most cases. Only those who want to keep their groundcover roses low should use pruning shears every year.
Ground cover roses: How (much) to prune?
Basically, start with every rose cut by removing frozen, dead and diseased shoots. With large specimens, it can sometimes be necessary to use large hedge trimmers to cut the strong shootsto become master. Fortunately, the pruning is usually kept to a minimum and does not have to be done annually.
When the time comes, cut back all strong, long shoots by two thirds in spring. You can also cut off one or two old main shoots close to the ground to encourage new growth and prevent senescence. Also cut out wild shoots from the rootstock. However, some varieties of ground cover roses are also offered ungrafted and therefore have no grafting point. You only have to cut these roses back to about 20 centimeters every four or five years.
Pruning Ground Cover Roses: Instructions
We have created detailed pruning instructions for your ground cover roses below:
- Pruning in spring (March/April)
- Use clean and sharp tools
- Remove dead and diseased shoots
- Cut back all shoots by about two thirds
- Cut off two old main shoots close to the ground to encourage new growth
- Cut out wild shoots
- Pruning again after four years at the latest
Here we explain in detail how to properly cut bed roses, climbing roses and the like. We also introduce you to different varieties of ground cover roses in our special article.