A Cut Above
Pruning your Rose bushes is not difficult and the reward of bountiful blooms is well worth the effort
Why Prune?
For shape and growth. Cut off old or diseased canes to help your Rose maintain an attractive, full shape. Proper pruning also promotes growth of new buds, helping the bush produce more blooms.
To keep the Rose healthy. Pruning opens up the form of the bush, allowing air circulation which is necessary to prevent fungal disease.
When to Prune?
In early Spring. Prune your Roses when canes first begin to grow.
Make a Clean Cut
Choose an outward-facing bud to make the Rose grow outward and allow more light and air into its center. Cutting above an inward-facing bud causes the Rose to grow straggly into the center of the bush.
Correct Angle
Cut 1/4 inch above the bud at a 45 degree angle, slanted parallel with the bud. A cut too close to the bud will prevent it from growing and a cut too far the remaining cane length will die.
Use Sharp Shears
Use sharp pruning shears to make a clean cut. If the cane is too thick, use sharp loppers instead. A frayed cut will leave the Rose open to attack from frost, pests and fungus. Try again, lower down the cane.
Flower Cutting
When a flower fades, remove it and cut stem bearing only one bloom back to the first leaf that bears five leaflets, but if those leaves grow towards the inside of the bush, drop down for your cut to the next outward-facing leaf.
Cutting Back
Once you have cut out unwanted growth from your Rose bush, prune the main canes back to just above the nearest healthy, outward-growing bud or to the desired height.
Roses that should
be pruned in this manner include:
Hybrid Teas
Floribundas
Old-fashoined shrub Roses
Grandifloras
General Maintenance
| Inspect the Rose Bush. If it has grown suckers from the roots, dig down and pull them off at the root. |
If canes are crossed and rubbing together, cut the smaller one back.This will strengthen the remaining canes. |
Cut away thin, scraggly canes and prune away broken, dead or diseased canes. If the canes are not white or green inside, cut lower. |
Cut all healthy canes back to maintain the proportions of the Rose. Carefully prune to establish a well-rounded and open form |
Cut each Rose cane to just above the nearest outward-facing bud. If you make a mistake, try again on the next outward-facing bud. |
