How to harvest and dry rose petals

There are so many different ways of using dry rose petals. If you have roses growing in your garden, then you are in luck. These flowers can be harvested and used to decorate your home. Once they are past their prime, you can also make the most of the dried petals.

Tips for harvesting

Rose petals can break down easily if they are not handled properly. The best time to pick these flowers is in the mid morning after the dew has evaporated. Of course, you also do not want to wait too long or the heat of the sun can take its toll on your blooms. Once you have your flowers in hand, gently remove the rose petals. Place the petals on a flat surface and spread them out so that they don’t overlap one another. Make sure that you place the petals on absorbent paper so that they dry quickly and evenly. Once dried, they are very lightweight and they can blow around so make sure that you don’t place them in a windy area. Alternatively, you can position a screen over them just to prevent them from moving around. Make sure that the screen does not squash the petals. You should also make sure that you don’t place the petals in the sun or they will lose their colour.

Uses for dried rose petals

Once your petals are properly dried, there are many ways of using the,. Make sure that you keep them in a dark, cool and dry place to prevent damage or deterioration. Rose petals can be added to herbal teas, you can make rose water or you can use the petals to create the most amazing decorations for your home. You can even place them in a clay saucer and add your favourite essential oils.

Remember, rose petals dry faster than roses that remain intact. This is largely due to the fact that the petals overlap one another. If you wish to dry roses without removing the petals, make sure that you do so before they open completely and hang them upside down so that they maintain their shape while drying.