When and how to prune a groundcover rose?

What is a groundcover rose?

A groundcover rose is a rose that usually measures between 40 and 60 cm in height or a little more, with a flexible and very spreading habit. Indeed, this type of rose produces long thorny, trailing shoots from the base, never becoming bare. This allows it to cover a large area of soil. Some of them are very creeping and can layer naturally, others spread while still being able to climb a little. Finally, they are very floriferous, vigorous and of rapid growth. From June onwards they are literally weighed down by roses and flower continuously until the autumn frosts. I would add that they are also healthy roses that require very little!

Association of groundcover roses ‘Emera’ and ‘The Fairy’

When to prune a groundcover rose?

Best time to prune groundcover roses is late winter, usually late March.

How to prune a groundcover rose?

Pruning groundcover roses couldn’t be simpler! The idea is to give them a shape, encourage them to ramify and to rejuvenate them.

For this:

• first, remove all dead wood;
• if your rose is young, prune only upright branches that unbalance its silhouette;
• for pruning older roses, two possible techniques: either you remove a few older branches each year (a technique I practise personally), or you cut roses back to 30–40 cm above the graft, every 3 to 5 years. These roses don’t need precise pruning. Some gardeners don’t hesitate to carry out the task with a simple shear, for a quick and effective result!

1- Remove one or two older branches each year to rejuvenate the rose; 2- Remove all upright branches

Best groundcover rose varieties

Find our range of groundcover roses among our roses for borders. Here is a selection of the best varieties :

Rosa Decorosiers Opalia 'Noaschnee'

Variety 'Opalia' is an outstanding groundcover rose! Multiple award-winner, notably holding famous ADR label, it offers exceptional pure-white flowering and perfectly healthy foliage. A must-have!

• Flowering time June to November
• Height at maturity 70 cm

See the product sheet

Rosa Decorosier Emera - Shrub rose

'Emera' is also a benchmark among groundcover roses. It offers generous fuchsia-pink flowering and excellent disease resistance. Another must-have!

• Flowering time June to November
• Height at maturity 70 cm

See the product sheet

Rosa x polyantha - Sans Contraintes - 'Knirps' - Ground Cover Rose

Discover 'Knirps', an adorable rose with small, very double flowers reminiscent of old roses, also awarded prestigious ADR label.

• Flowering time July to November
• Height at maturity 30 cm

See the product sheet

Rosa x polyantha The Fairy - Groundcover Rose

Here is another superb rose that gathers many qualities: abundant flowering, healthy foliage, low-maintenance, vigorous, undemanding... almost foolproof!

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 80 cm

See the product sheet

Rosa 'Swany; - Groundcover Rose

Hard to resist 'Swany', with delicate double white flowers, rarely affected by disease and notable for flowering in shaded areas!

• Flowering time July to November
• Height at maturity 50 cm

See the product sheet