How to prune the branches of Chinese roses
Compared to the pruning knowledge of Chinese roses and the illustration of pruning methods for most people, here are the specifics:
Let's talk about pruning Chinese roses today. There are light and heavy pruning methods. Light pruning is mainly done in spring, summer, and autumn, like now. Since the Chinese roses have already faded, how should we prune them?
Post-bloom pruning depends on the variety. For shrub roses, cut half of the flowering branches, leaving at least 15 centimeters above the ground; for climbing roses, just cut off the spent flowers, as excessive cutting will affect the flower yield next year.
Light pruning for young and weak seedlings, moderate pruning for large and strong seedlings, and avoid heavy pruning in summer. Heavy pruning is done after the Chinese roses have shed all their leaves in winter, which is commonly referred to as "winter pruning" by enthusiasts.
Winter pruning has a significant impact on the quantity and quality of the first wave of flowers in a year for Chinese roses. In other words, if the pruning is done well in winter, many new branches and buds will sprout in spring, resulting in a particularly vigorous bloom!
How to prune the branches of Chinese roses
If you don't prune in winter, there won't be many new branches the following year, and only a few flowers will bloom at the top, significantly reducing the ornamental value!
Next, let's talk about how to prune in winter.
Winter pruning should be done during the cold dormant period of Chinese roses, at the coldest time of the year, not too early or too late.
When pruning shrub roses, first identify the strong branches that have grown from the main stem in spring and the suckers that have emerged from the roots or main stem. These robust branches will be the main force for flowering in spring and summer next year.