How to Deadhead Roses So They Bloom All Season Long

Deadheading roses encourages the plant to produce more blooms, which prolongs the flowering period and promotes a cleaner appearance. How you deadhead roses will depend on the variety you're growing. Some varieties, like climbers and shrubs, need minimal deadheading, while others benefit greatly from it. To ensure you get this gardening chore right, we spoke to experts who share their tips for deadheading roses based on the type you're growing.

What Is Deadheading?

Deadheading is the process of removing old flowers by cutting them off just below the spent bloom. "This is different than pruning, which is typically a more severe cutback to shape the plant or remove dead or damaged stems," says Ryan McEnaney, garden designer and author of Field Guide to Outside Style: Design and Plant Your Perfect Outdoor Space.

Materials Needed

Make sure you have the following materials on hand when deadheading roses.

• Pruning shears
• Gloves
• Container or bucket
• Disinfectant

When and How to Deadhead Roses

Deadhead roses after the flowers have faded and begun to wilt. "Ideally, you should deadhead roses as soon as the petals lose their color and before the plant starts forming seed heads," says Wes Harvell, a rosarian for Jackson & Perkins. "This typically occurs throughout the growing season, from spring until late summer or early fall, depending on the specific variety and climate." While the technique will vary depending on the type of roses you're growing, the basic steps are as follows:

1. Examine your rose bush for spent or fading blooms. Look for flowers that have wilted or lost their vibrant color.
2. Locate the stem just beneath the spent flower. Look for a set of healthy leaves or leaflets to determine where to make your cut.
3. Using sharp pruning shears, cut the stem just above a set of healthy leaves or leaflets. Angle the cut at about 45 degrees away from the bud or leaf.
4. Place the removed spent blooms into your container or bucket for disposal.
5. Continue inspecting the rose bush and deadheading any spent blooms you find.
6. After deadheading, dispose of the collected spent blooms and clean your pruning shears with a disinfectant solution.

Tips for Deadheading Specific Types of Roses

When deadheading, you'll need to adjust your method slightly based on the type of roses in your garden.

• Shrub roses: Deadheading may not be needed for shrub roses, as they often exhibit self-cleaning behavior by naturally dropping their petals, says Harvell. This maintenance task can still be performed to enhance the visual appeal of your roses. 
• Hybrid tea roses: When deadheading hybrid tea roses, cut just above a five-leaf juncture on the stem to maintain stem strength, says Harvell. While you may see a three-leaf juncture, it typically indicates a weaker and thinner part of the stem. 
• Floribunda roses: Clusters of several flowers bloom on floribunda roses, with each flower potentially blooming at different times. To deadhead, remove the individual spent flowers, ensuring those still in bloom remain, says Harvell. Once all flowers in the cluster have completed blooming, trim the entire cluster.

What to Do After Deadheading Roses

After deadheading your rose plant, these are some additional steps you can take to further boost its overall health. "Consider applying a balanced fertilizer to provide nutrients to the rose bush," says Harvell. "Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the rose bush. This will help in retaining soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature."  Additionally, keep an eye on the plant for any signs of pests, diseases, or nutrient deficiencies.

Common Issues When Deadheading Roses

There are some common pitfalls gardeners may encounter when deadheading roses.

• Improper cutting: Cutting the stems too long, too short, or at the wrong angle can affect the plant's ability to produce new growth and blooms, says Harvell. Be sure to make the cut at a 45-degree angle away from the bud or leaf.
• Failure to deadhead regularly: Not deadheading regularly can result in a buildup of spent blooms, inhibiting the plant's ability to produce new flowers and potentially leading to disease or pest problems, says Harvell.
• Spreading disease: Using dirty or dull pruning tools or not disinfecting them between cuts can spread diseases between plants, says Harvell.