How to Cut the Blooms off a Rose

Gardeners cut rose blooms to make fresh smelling bouquets, for formal functions or to deadhead the rose bush to encourage it to continue producing blossoms for a longer period of time. Cutting a rose flower is similar to pruning the plant. When removing a blossom on a new or young plant try to limit the amount of foliage that is taken with the blossom so the bush has an easier time recovering.

• 1

  Clean the pruning shears prior to cutting rose blooms by washing the blades of the pruning shears in soap and warm water or pour rubbing alcohol over the blades to remove and kill any bacteria that may be present.

• 2

  Grasp the blossom gently with one gloved hand. Snip the rose's stem one third of an inch above an outward facing leaf that contains at least five leaflets. Make the cut at a 45-degree angle.

• 3

  Place the bloom's cut end in a bucket of warm water. Cold water will render the flower unable to uptake water, which will result in its death sooner, according to the Valley Rose Club's website.