Owning a rose bush can be as daunting as it is gratifying. Everyone one who has ever owned a rose bush has wondered at least once how to prune it, when to prune it, “Am I going to kill it?”.

When we look online there are so many different ways and times and they are all true. It all comes down to the rose you own. But, do not despair, there are some general rules that might take the weight off your shoulders.

BUT FIRST: WHY DO WE PRUNE ROSES?

Quoting the Oregon State University Extension “Roses should be pruned to encourage new growth and a succession of flowers throughout the growing season. Roses are pruned annually to encourage healthy plants.”

Unpruned or underpruned roses, like many other flowering shrubs, will flower less and will weaken overtime; but you can alway rejuvenate a rose bush so let’s keep our hopes up!

WHEN TO PRUNE ROSES

Here comes the panic right? No, no need to panic…yet.

According to the New York Botanical garden (NYBG) roses that bloom once in the season prefer to be pruned right after blooming while re-blooming roses (that bloom more than once) rather be pruned in late March or early April. They say “The precise timing will vary with where you live but you can take your signal from the plants: buds swelling or roses fading.”

NOTE: Once-blooming roses bloom on old wood (last year’s wood) while re-blooming roses bloom on new wood (same year wood). Usually, old fashioned roses bloom only once (there are few exceptions) and newer varieties bloom continuously. Remember this!

Specifically, you need to know what kind of rose bush you have…now you can panic! Once you know which rose you own that’s easy if you keep reading.

Hybrid Teas, Floribundas and Grandifloras: they bloom continuously. “Prune in early spring when about half the buds are swollen, but before the leaves start to expand. Take off  ⅓ to ⅔ the length of the canes, cutting back to an outside bud. Reduce the plant to a total of 3 to 6 canes”. They truly love a good hard pruning and they’ll produce strong canes and beautiful flowers. Don’t be afraid of cutting. Your bravery will be rewarded!

Repeat Blooming Modern Shrubs and Repeat Blooming Old Garden Roses: ok, these are tricky…they bloom on laterals* of old wood (one and two-year canes) and new wood. So now what? “Cut back main canes by half and laterals to just two buds. Thin out branches that are older than three years.”

*Laterals: thinner shoots that grow off the main cane. They produce many leaves along them and blooms at their tips.

Knock Out Roses®: probably the most popular roses, they grow up to 3-4’ tall and wide every year. Every year? What does that even mean? Well, it means that you better sharpen your pruners because it’s time to cut! In late Winter/ early Spring cut back the canes to a height of 12 inches by the new buds. Yeah you read that right, 12 inches! It’ll grow back at full force don’t you worry.

Repeat Blooming Climbing Roses: “do not prune a climbing rose for the first three years; only remove dead, damaged or diseased wood. After three years, cut back laterals in the early spring to two or three buds or about six inches. On a mature climber, selectively thin out older canes by cutting down to the base.” And don’t forget to twine, often and carefully; you really don’t want to let the branches loose and floppy, you can thank me later.

Once Blooming Modern Shrub and Old Garden Roses: prune after flowering and prune LIGHTLY. They will benefit from being thinned out too. So, unlike the previous roses, hold your pruners! No need to go all Sweeney Todd on them.

NOTE: deadheading will encourage re-blooming roses to produce more blooms. So “Off with its head!” - The Queen of Hearts.

HOW TO PRUNE

TOOLS:

• Pruners: do not use pruning shears, they only cut up to three quarters of an inch and you might end up damaging both the plant and the shears.

• Loppers: have a longer handle and will make it easier to cut larger branches or the inside ones. Prickles are not fun. And yes folks, roses have prickles not thorns. Ah, you’ll have to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to know all the fun facts!

• Alcohol: every time you prune a rose, dip your tools in alcohol before moving to another plant.

• Gloves: leather gloves work best because, you know, prickles! They are optional though, I can’t tell you what to do

…People have forgotten this truth, but you mustn’t forget it. You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Resources:

https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/pruning-roses

https://libanswers.nybg.org/faq/223492