Roses are the nation’s favourite flower and it’s easy to see why. There’s a huge choice, both in flower colour and style, as well as height and habit.
Types of Roses: Once-Flowering vs Repeat Flowering
Roses can be divided into various categories, one of which is those that repeat flower throughout the summer and those that flower just once. The types of roses that flower just once in the season are either species roses or what are termed ‘Old Roses’, such as the Gallicas, Damask and Alba roses.
Once flowering roses such as Rosa ‘Charles de Mills’ tend to flower mainly between late spring and early to midsummer, many of which, like Rosa moyesii ‘Geranium’, go on to form lovely-looking hips.
When to Deadhead
As hips colour up in the autumn, they should not be deadheaded. To do so would be to remove the hips. Either way, there’s little point in deadheading (unless they look unsightly), as they won’t produce another flower until next year.
Most people tend to grow repeat-flowering roses, which should be deadheaded as soon as the flowers have passed their best. This sends out a signal to the plant to produce more flowers—a key part of rose care and garden maintenance.
Most roses produce their flowers in groups, known as ‘heads’. The individual flowers can be snapped or cut off with sharp, clean-bladed secateurs, as each goes over just below the base of the flower.
Then, once all the blooms on the head have been removed, cut the main stem below the head down to just above the first full set of outward-facing leaves lower down on that stem.
Repeat this process throughout the summer for better flowering and healthier plants.
Letting Rose Hips Develop
Do bear in mind that some repeat-flowering roses, such as ‘Penelope’, also produce wonderful, coloured hips in the autumn. Check your varieties and, if one or more of them are known for hip production, leave some flower heads on the plant after they’ve finished flowering.
You could be rewarded with a bonus of pretty-coloured hips later in the year, to be appreciated by you and the birds!
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Frequently Asked Questions
1 – When is the best time to deadhead roses in the UK?
As soon as a flower starts to fade, it’s time to snip. During summer, I deadhead weekly to keep blooms coming.
2 – What’s the difference between repeat-flowering and once-flowering roses?
Repeat-flowerers do a lot of work in the summer, blooming again and again. Once-flowerers give a big show early on, then settle in for the season.
3 – How do I deadhead roses properly?
Remove each faded bloom just below the flower base. Then trim the stem above the first full set of outward-facing leaves.
4 – Will deadheading roses give me more flowers?
Yes, snipping off old blooms tells the rose to keep going. It’s the simplest trick to extend flowering right through summer.
5 – Why are rose hips worth keeping?
They’re little jewels in the border come autumn. They feed the birds, add colour, and give your garden a second season of interest.
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
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