Q. I read that summertime is when roses “sleep” in the
desert heat. The question popped into my head a few days ago, “Can I prune my
roses bushes in June and let them grow and flower through the winter months?”
desert heat. The question popped into my head a few days ago, “Can I prune my
roses bushes in June and let them grow and flower through the winter months?”
A. I wouldn’t. Roses don’t really “sleep” or become
dormant during the summer months, but they “struggle” instead with the heat and
intense sunlight. Therefore, they might stop flowering and look bad. The ideal
temperature for most roses is around 65F and “comfortable growth” can range as
high as 82F. Temperatures higher than this range produce increasing plant
stress.
dormant during the summer months, but they “struggle” instead with the heat and
intense sunlight. Therefore, they might stop flowering and look bad. The ideal
temperature for most roses is around 65F and “comfortable growth” can range as
high as 82F. Temperatures higher than this range produce increasing plant
stress.
Don’t Prune Roses in Summer
Intense direct sunlight causes considerable
damage to previously shaded stems if roses are pruned and opened up in the
summer.
damage to previously shaded stems if roses are pruned and opened up in the
summer.
Allowing
intense sunlight inside the plant canopy is the major reason I wouldn’t prune
roses during the summer. If you were living in Seattle or San Francisco I would
tell you to go ahead and prune in the summer
intense sunlight inside the plant canopy is the major reason I wouldn’t prune
roses during the summer. If you were living in Seattle or San Francisco I would
tell you to go ahead and prune in the summer