Is it ok to cut roses from a growing bush?

[YinMnBlue]

My neighbour has relocated for lockdown, she usually commutes for work and returns home for the W/é but is staying put at her work flat. She won’t be home for 2months.

I am keeping check on things for her, including mowing and weeding her small front.

She has loads of roses, really laden with flowers and buds.

Can I cut a few and bring them in for a vase? Or would it damage the bush?

You could but they don’t belong to you.

Well since you have introduced the ethics as well as horticulture: as long as the plant is not damaged she won mind. I know that. She clips freely from 3 herb plants by my porch, she has given me keys and said help myself from an edible plant in her back garden so it doesn’t go to waste, sadly she is not here to enjoy her roses.

Then there is no problem

No it won't damage the bush but she might see the cut stems and know it's happened but if you don't think she'd mind then I'd say go ahead and enjoy them

when would a rose bush produce flowers if it wasn't growing?

This is more of a question of if you should take someone else's flowers. Here is a thought: Just send a quick text and ask her?

It’s positively good to dead-head them as they go over, so I’d be fine with it. It’s not me though. But in terms of the bush, it’s fine.

It keeps the plant invigorated, you should cut off dead heads anyway so go for it

You need to deadhead roses anyway to keep them flowering, so this would just be slightly premature deadheading 🤷‍♀️