Roses are one of the most popular plants in the garden thanks to their beautiful blooms and delicate scent. But once the flowers die, the shrub is not very attractive. We talked to an expert to find out if you should cut roses after the flowers die, and how best to care for these gorgeous plants.

Should You Cut Roses If the Flowers Die?

Removing spent blooms from plants helps divert the plant’s energy from maintaining those dying blooms to other leaf and flower production, and general growth. Roses are no exception.

“Modern roses, such as hybrid teas, grandifloras, and floribundas, should be deadheaded to conserve energy and encourage repeat bloom,” says horticulture expert Aaron Steil.

If your rose bush is in its first year of growth, remove the faded flowers just above the top 3-leaflet cluster. Don’t cut or prune more aggressively because the plant needs enough foliage to manufacture food. Established roses can be deadheaded more aggressively.

Stiel recommends that gardeners stop deadheading hybrid teas, grandifloras, and floribundas in late August or September, depending on your USDA hardiness zone.

The late summer blooms should be left so the rose develops rose hips or fruit. The development of rose hips slows the plant’s growth and helps prepare the plant for winter.

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How to Cut Roses

1. When removing the spent blooms, use hand pruners and cut about 1/4 inch above the set of leaves.
2. Cut at a 45° angle so water from sprinklers or rain runs off the shoot. A straight cut can hold water, allowing bacteria or fungi to grow.
3. When deadheading established roses, the stem should be cut back to a 5-leaflet leaf. Always try to keep at least two 5-leaflet leaves on each rose shoot.
4. Late summer is also a good time to selectively shape rose bushes and remove any unwanted growth. Roses will often have suckers that grow from the rootstock of the rose plant.
5.  After cutting back the roses, rake or pick up the clippings to help prevent disease.

Why Your Rose Blooms Died

If your rose blooms seem to die more quickly than they should, there are several factors that could be the cause. With some adjustments to your gardening habits, they can be corrected so that your roses will thrive.

• Improper watering. Both overwatering and underwatering can stress roses, causing them to lose blooms too quickly.
• Poor soil conditions. Roses require nutrient-rich, well-draining soil for healthy growth.
• Improper fertilization. Too little fertilization reduces flower production, and using a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen results in excessive foliage and fewer blooms.
• Pests and plant diseases. Aphids, spider mites, black spot, or powdery mildew can weaken roses and interfere with flower production.
• Weather stress. Excessive periods of rain and high or low temperatures can cause rose blooms to die quickly.

What to Do With Roses After the Flowers Die 

After roses have stopped blooming at the end of summer, water the plants regularly and add a layer of mulch to help retain moisture and protect the plants during cooler temperatures to come. The best time to prune roses is between late winter and early spring before blooms start showing.

Prune roses at a 45º angle above a bud eye, angling downward on the opposite side of the stem from the eye. Remove any twiggy branches that are thinner than a pencil, branches that cross each other, and all dead or diseased branches.

The ultimate goal is to maintain a “V” formation—or vase shape—with several, evenly spaced major canes that sprout from the ground. New roses should be pruned lightly during their first year, as this allows for the healthiest growth possible.