How to Prune Roses

Posted on April 6th, 2009 by Carmelia

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Pruning rose bushes are an important part in cultivating and keeping roses in your garden. Not only does regular pruning help get rid of dead wood, it also helps encourage new growth, blooms and improve the air circulation. Pruning also makes your roses look more aesthetically pleasing. Here’s how to prune roses.

Tools

Long, thick gardening gloves
Hand shears
Long-handled loppers (for bigger branches)
Bypass pruners

Procedure

Make sure that your tools are well-maintained and kept sharp.

roses

Pruning roses should typically be done in the Spring. However, the class of rose and zonal area also determines when it is the best time to prune them. If you are not sure, observe the roses when they are just about to break out from dormancy, or when leaf buds are beginning to swell on the stems.
Before starting, go over the roses and decide on what shape you want it to take. Start pruning from the base.
Make decisive cuts at a 45 degree angle, a fourth of an inch above a bud facing the outside of the plant. Ragged cuts are a definite no-no.
Remove all the old wood in your roses. If you see branches that are dry, black or shriveled, remove them, or cut until the inside portion of the stem or cane is white.
Prune away twiggy branches that are thinner than a pencil.
Cut away branches that are criss-crossing or rub against each other as these can be prime spots for infection.
Get rid of cane borers by sealing cuts in the stem using common white glue.
Check for sucker growth below grafts and remove them.
Clear out remaining foliage and castoffs thoroughly.

Pruning for Rose Types

Floribunda and Modern Ever-Blooming Roses. Prune almost severely from half to a third of the plant’s height n spring. Remove woody stems, leave up to five healthy canes spaced all around the plant. Cuts can range from 18 inches to 24 inches
Ramblers. Prune primarily to remove damage caused by winter, removing dead wood and to maintain its size and shape. Can be pruned after flowering in lengths of two to three inches.
Modern Shrub Roses. Do not prune for the first two years and in the third year, remove roughly about a third of the shrub. Continuously remove a third of dead or old wood yearly.
Climbers. Prune after flowering to maintain shape and size.
Miniature roses. Prune to shape. When cutting, make sure that there is an outward facing bud after blooming.