How to Deadhead Midnight Rose Bushes

"Midnight Blue," one of many cultivars of the rose family, provides large, dark blue flowers throughout the year. Deadheading is the process of cutting off flower heads as they begin to lose their vigor but before they produce seed, to encourage the plant to produce more flower growth. This practice is especially common to rose bushes, but many other plants can provide more prolific and longer lasting blooms if the heads are cut periodically.

Pruners
Plastic bag or bucket

Instructions

- 1
  Assess your rose bush to determine which flower heads are beginning to wilt or lose petals.
- 2
  Start at the head of the plant and work backwards down the stem until you find the first five-leaf cluster. There will often, but not always, be a three-leaf cluster before this point.
- 3
  Cut the stem 1/4 inch above the five-leaf cluster, using your pruners. Cut at a 45-degree angle to minimize the risk of diseases and other pathogens finding their way into the rose bush.
- 4
  Repeat this process with all stems that have wilting flowers connected to them.
- 5
  Place all cut stems and flowers into your bucket or plastic bag. Dead petals around the bush can encourage mold and other detrimental issues for your rose.
- 6
  Deadhead the Midnight Rose once weekly, or as often as possible.

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