Depending on what look you are going for, you can either try to blend it in to the rest of the petal (which is easier with gouache and oil than it is acrylic) or you can just leave it be! And that is how to paint a rose!
Rose pruning: general tips
These general tips for rose pruning will help you improve the health and lifespan of any rose.
Prevent suckers taking over by cutting them off at their point of origin.
Quick facts
Suitable for: All roses
Timing: See individual profiles
Difficulty: Moderate
Jump to
- Suitable for.
- When to prune roses
- How to prune roses: general tips
- Pruning an unknown rose
- Rose pruning: climbing roses
- Rose pruning: hybrid tea and floribundas
- Rose pruning: groundcover roses
- Rose pruning: patio and miniature roses
- Rose pruning: rambling roses
- Rose pruning: shrub roses
When to prune roses
- Cuts should be no more than 5mm ( ¼ in) above a bud and should slope downwards away from it, so that water does not collect on the bud. This applies to all cuts, whether removing dead wood, deadheading or annual pruning
- Cut to an outward-facing bud to encourage an open-centred shape. With roses of spreading habit, prune some stems to inward-facing buds to encourage more upright growth
- Cut to the appropriate height, if a dormant bud is not visible
- Cuts must be clean, so keep your secateurs sharp. For larger stems, use loppers or a pruning saw
- Prune dieback to healthy white pith
- Cut out dead and diseased stems and spindly and crossing stems
- Aim for well-spaced stems that allow free air flow
- On established roses, cut out poorly flowering old wood and saw away old stubs that have failed to produce new shoots
- With the exception of climbing roses and shrub roses, prune all newly planted roses hard to encourage vigorous shoots
- Trace suckers back to the roots from which they grow and pull them away
These tips should be read in conjunction with the appropriate rose pruning profile.
Step 1: Map Out Your Rose
I typically use squiggly “c” shapes that form around a larger circle. For the sake of reference here, I am using a ballpoint pen to clearly show where the line work is.
You can really make it as large or small as you would like.
Step 2: Start With Your Darkest Color
Next, this is where you will begin picking a color scheme for your rose. For the darkest shade, I chose to mix purple and red for a deeper color. You will want to apply this to the inner side of the petals, meaning the side that is hugging the center of the rose.
Step 3: Cover the rest of the unpainted areas with your midtone.
The midtone I am choosing to use is a simple red from my Winsor and Newton Gouache Set. At this point, you just want to saturate any areas that are white in the rose with the color you chose.
Time & Location
22 Oct, 10:00 – 16:00
Dudley Canal Trust, 501 Birmingham New Rd, Tipton, Dudley DY1 4SB, UK
Join me for this beginners class, learning how to paint flowers in the traditional ‘Roses and Castles’ canal art style. You’ll be working on a placemat, using the same enamel paints used to decorate the boats themselves.
In this workshop we’ll cover a wee bit of history as well as;
– development of the art,
– what kit you need (and how to treat it right!)
– Braunston style roses and daisies
I’ll guide you through each step, provide all materials and share hints and tips along the way. You’ll take home a beautiful placemat, to admire for years to come. If there’s something you would like to paint instead of a placemat, please let me know and bring it along with you.
You can choose your background colour – dark green, blue, dark red or black. Please let me know when booking.
In the morning we’ll get the foundation layers painted and, after a lunch break, we’ll add the decorative top layers. No experience needed, and you don’t even have to be ‘artistic’! Please don’t wear your best ballgown, as you’ll be getting painty and stinky.
There is the option to visit the Gongoozler cafe for scrummy food and drink. You’re welcome to bring your own refreshments, which can be eaten at the outside picnic benches.
