Roses should be at their peak and full of blooms in July, but gardeners still need to be caring for them throughout summer if they want even more flowers. It is normal for rose flower petals to wither and turn brown in response to hot weather, which is not usually a cause for concern, but it can affect the plant’s overall growth. 

Roses use a great deal of energy to cope with high summer temperatures, and they usually waste valuable resources maintaining spent flowers instead of producing new buds. However Randi, a urban gardener also known as the Freckled Californian, has shared a simple way to help roses grow bigger and longer-lasting flowers is to deadhead them.

She said: “Simply put, deadheading is the process of removing flowers that have finished blooming and are starting to fade. 

“By deadheading a flower, you are stopping the plant from diverting energy to form seed heads so it can instead divert energy into more growth.” 

Deadheading is a quick gardening job that should only take a few minutes, but taking the time to do it will help the plant spend more energy producing buds.

Removing decaying petals from a rose not only keeps the plant looking attractive but also helps it stay healthy, as dying foliage can encourage fungal diseases such as black spot. 

Spent flower tend to retain moisture, which creates a perfect environment for bacteria and pests, so tidying up the plant will keep it dry and reduce the risk of disease.

How to deadhead roses in summer 

Deadheading is very easy as you just need a sharp pair of shears or scissors. Look for any faded flowers, and any cut the dying blooms and not any healthy ones. 

If notice just one withering flower, then simple snip it off where the small stem joins the main stem on the plant. If a whole cluster of flowers has finished blooming, then cut back that part of the stem, as this helps shape the plant and prevent energy being wasted on old flowers. 

To find the right place to cut, follow the flower stem until you see a leaf with five leaflets, also known as sections. Cut just above this leaf as the steam is strong which will encourage better growth. 

When deadheading, look for a small bumps that fact outward, away from the centre of the plant. These are buds and outward-facing flowers will allow more air to circulate around the rose bush which also prevents disease. 

Once you know what you are looking for and where to cut, simply remove the dying blooms and dispose of any cut foliage. Your roses will be much stronger and grow better flowers if you take a few minutes to deadhead them when needed in summer.