I don’t know why but pruning roses is intimidating to many new gardeners, but it is actually very good for the plants. Learning how to prune roses does take a bit of time and practice, but keep in mind that it is very hard to kill a rose with bad pruning.
Rose experts disagree when and how to prune roses, but generally agree that most mistakes will grow out very quickly and it is better to make a good effort at pruning roses than to let them grow rampant. I have seen them pruned with a chainsaw!
See the video demo at the end!
Some Do’s and Don’ts
Do not prune newly planted roses – they need to get established before you remove any growth (other than dead wood).
Prune first year roses (those you have grown for one season) lightly. They may not have developed a lot of top growth the first season, and need all their canes to continue to thrive.
Pay attention to where you are placing your hands. Roses don’t stick you; you stick yourself on the roses! It is a good idea to check to see if you have had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years.
The cane will tend to grow in the direction the top bud is pointing to – so cut to an outside bud on uprights bushes and to an inside bud on sprawling bushes. Cut about 1/4″ away from the bud, If cut closer, the new growth may break off. If cut longer, an unsightly stub will remain.
(buds are usually above a leaf where it comes out of a cane)
Cut back to good healthy wood.
Remove about one-third to one-half of the volume of the plant, leaving healthy canes, and the center of the plant open.
Large canes can be cut easily with sharp shears if they are bent slightly away from the cutting edges of the shears.
PRUNING CUTS
Do not worry if the cut cane bleeds; there is no evidence to show that it is harmful to either roses or grapevines. It is not necessary to seal cuts.
1. Remove all broken, dead, dying or diseased wood.
2. Remove any weak or twiggy branches thinner than a pencil.
3. Remove sucker growth below the graft.
4. Remove any remaining foliage.
Why Prune Roses?
- Encourage new growth and bloom
- Remove dead wood
- Improve air circulation
- Shape the plant
When to prune
Pruning Roses
The Winter Prune
This is the hardest prune when the plant is dormant. (in cold winter areas do this before frosts and snow) Take off all dead wood and about half of the rest. Remove all pencil sized canes.
Spring Rose Pruning
The first blooms of the season come in the Spring. When they a
re finished or looking ragged – do a medium prune and you will get another crop in 6-7 weeks (temperate zones)
Mid Summer Prune
Medium to hard prune: a third of the bush.
Autumn Prune (temperate zones)
A light to medium prune will usually give you another flowering before winter.