Wildwing, welcome to the forum! I deadhead my roses back to the first set of 3 leaves because that's what my mom told me to do. :)Not sure if its the best way but it works for me. If its a cluster of flowers all blooming at different stages, I just pop the offending head off so the rest can bloom. In Ca. where the climate is a bit mild I prune them back to the canes in January to make them rest for a few months. How cold does it get where you are in New Mexico?
Atreus, I love your pictures! Your dahila is amazing!
Thanks Gardengal, I love dahlias. My Mom grew them when I was a kid and they remind me of childhood, enough soppy, I still love to produce really spectacular flowers
I have umteen million rosebushes...because I'm nuts, and I love em too. My mom told me that once they were done flowering to cut them on a diagonal, just above the first set of 5 leaves (start looking from the top, down). If you do, you'll get new buds and encourage more growth - my roses have rebloomed about 6 times already this summer. Wahoo! Hope that helps