Roses are starting to wilt and slow down now that the weather is getting colder, so it is incredibly important to pay attention to their leaves at the moment to keep them healthy. One of the biggest mistakes gardeners make in autumn is neglecting roses once they stop flowering, as October is when the plant is most vulnerable to disease.
Old blooms rotting on the plant can leave roses at risk of fungal infections such as black spot, which first appears as large dark patches on the lower leaves. Black spot spores thrive on decaying foliage, and if they infect the plant, it will become very weak and less likely to survive the winter. Luckily Lindsey Ward, a gardening expert from Plants 2 Gardens, has shared it is easy to protect roses from disease, as long as you take a few minutes to deadhead them.
Lindsey said: “Now it’s time for a little tidy up of those blooms and stems. Flower heads that are now looking a little sad and worn out can be snipped off or even just remove the petals to leave the hips to ripen.”
Dying flowers and leaves create a lot of moisture, and this damp environment will create the ideal breeding ground for fungal spores.
Deadheading is the simple gardening method of pulling off any wilting parts of a plant, and in autumn removing this material stops the spores from being able to spread.
It will also stop dead plant matter overcrowding the stems, which improves airflow to keep the plant dry, which is the best way from stopping black spot from infecting roses.
Roses will be much healthier if you deadhead them now, as it prevents them from wasting energy on decaying foliage and allows them to conserve strength to grow bigger and better flowers next spring.
How to deadhead roses in autumn
It is really easy to deadhead roses, and should take you 10 minutes or less. All you need to do is first take a step back and inspect your roses.
Look for any flowers which are faded, wilted or are turning brown Then, take a pair of clean secateurs and cut off the dying flower heads.
Also cut off any dead or damaged looking stems. Make sure to also snip off any stems that are beginning to look tangled, as this will help improve air circulation.
Do not cut back too much in autumn, otherwise it can stress the plant out as it is preparing for the colder weather. Just remove any spent flowers and tidy up the plant.
Make sure to pick up any cut petals or leaves under the plant after deadheading, as this stops fungal spots from festering in the soil over winter. Your roses should stay clean and healthy throughout the winter months so they come back stronger next year.
