Pruning is essential for keeping floribunda and hybrid tea roses healthy and productive. If left unpruned, these bush roses can become overgrown and produce fewer flowers. Proper pruning ensures vigorous growth and a consistent bloom each year. Both types of roses belong to RHS Pruning Groups 15 and 16, and while their pruning methods are similar, there are some key differences in approach.
Why Prune Roses?
Pruning is vital to prevent roses from becoming tangled and crowded, which can lead to fewer flowers and poor air circulation. By cutting back old and damaged growth, you encourage fresh, vigorous shoots that will produce better blooms.
Pruning Groups
- Hybrid Tea Roses (Large-flowered): These roses tend to have a single flower per stem and bloom in several flushes throughout the growing season. They need to be pruned back to promote strong new growth.
- Floribunda Roses (Cluster-flowered): These roses produce multiple flowers per stem and bloom continuously throughout summer and autumn. They are pruned slightly differently to allow for abundant flowering on the same stem.
When to Prune
Pruning should be done during late winter or early spring when new growth begins to emerge. In milder southern areas, pruning can begin as early as mid-February, but in colder northern regions, it’s best to wait until March.
How to Prune
- Remove Dead and Damaged Stems: Start by cutting out any dead, diseased, or crossing stems to open up the center of the bush.
- Prune Hybrid Tea Roses (Group 15):
- Cut back strong shoots to 4-6 buds, around 10-15cm (4-6in) from the base, where the previous year’s growth started.
- Shorten weaker stems to 2-4 buds, about 5-10cm (2-4in) from the base.
- Aim to remove any wood older than three years to promote fresh, healthy growth.
- Prune Floribunda Roses (Group 16):
- Trim back strong stems to 25-30cm (10-12in) above the soil level.
- Prune weaker shoots more severely.
- Occasionally, older stems can be pruned hard to a few inches above the soil to encourage fresh growth from the base.
Additional Tips:
- Wear gloves to protect your hands from the thorns.
- Keep an eye out for common rose problems while pruning, such as rose aphids, black spot, mildew, and rust. These pests and diseases can be controlled with appropriate treatments.
- If your rose isn’t flowering as expected, this could be due to “blindness” – a lack of blooms. This issue can often be prevented by proper pruning and care.
Conclusion
Pruning hybrid tea and floribunda roses may seem daunting, but with the right technique, it becomes an easy task that rewards you with healthier plants and a more beautiful garden. Remember to prune at the right time and use the correct approach for each rose type. Whether you’re pruning for the first time or looking to improve your technique, following these guidelines will ensure your roses thrive.