Roses Pruning
I need help pruning my rose bush…I live in Wisconsin and it still has three roses on it, dead of course, but
But I have no idea how to prune it for Winter. I didn’t want to prune until the warm weather was gone. It looks like it’s gone now, so do I prune it to the ground? Leave it alone? Help!
Pruning in Autumn assists in cutting down ‘wind-rock’ in the roots of roses. Cut now by removing one-third of the top growth ensuring you cut back to just above a healthy growing point (a small raised pimple on the main stem – outward facing ones are good). Then, at the end of Feb/beginning of March cut it back by another third, again to a healthy bud. Then lightly fork in a rose fertiliser around the base and mulch with a 2-3″ deep top-dressing of compost or well rotted farm yard manure (not actually touching the stem though). Roses are ‘gross feeders’ and need regular feeds throughout the growing season. Good luck 
Roses Pruning
Rose Bush Pruning
Rose pruning is one of those necessary chores; people seem to have reservations about how and when to carry out the task, but its not difficult, and any ‘mis-cuts’ will be remedied with time. Most gardeners prune every year following procedures that might be specific to the different varieties.
What To Prune
Rose Bushes need pruning to remove diseased or dead canes and to open up the center of the plant to allow for greater air circulation. Take a look at the plant and decide what needs to be removed.
Beginning at the bottom of the plant, make the cuts at sharp 45 degree angles, always cutting about a quarter of an inch above a new bud. It’s better to keep buds facing outward where they can grow easily without crowding the other branches, inward facing buds can be eliminated.
Pruning targets old, dead canes and thin, wispy branches. A good rule of thumb is to remove one third of the canes, taking the oldest ones first. This opens up the plant, reducing moisture and potential mildew and gives roses a better overall appearance. Also cut away suckers from around the base of the plant.
How And When To Prune
How to prune and when to prune depends on the variety of rose and the climate zone. Plants that flower once a year have different needs; when forsythias begin to bloom in early spring it’s time to prune the once-a-year varieties. Cut the canes at varied lengths so the bush looks natural, with heights of roughly 18 to 24 inches.
For varieties with multiple blooming habits, the woody stems are necessary for flowers. These roses don’t need to be pruned the first year, and on the second year you only need to remove the oldest third of the stems.
One time bloomers, Centifolia, Damask, Gallica, and Alba require very little pruning. Their flowers grow on older woody stems. Wait until fall approaches and do a thorough deadheading, removing dead canes at that time.
Helpful Hints
Though pruning is relatively easy, there are a few cautionary notes. Use sharp, well–oiled pruners; ones that are cleaned frequently with rubbing alcohol. The greatest transmission of rose disease is from plant to plant, through pruners. Clean after pruning each plant, and take all cuttings out of the garden to be disposed.
When pruning, protect arms and legs from scratches by wearing long sleeved tops and pants. A good sturdy pair of gloves will help protect hands. After protecting yourself, remember to protect newly cut stems on roses by sealing the ends with a commercial sealant or a dab of Elmer’s white glue. This keeps bugs and diseases from entering the plant through the open cut.
Inspect the garden to see if any plants have been missed, clean up debris, and the job is complete.
About the Author
MJ Blake has been growing roses for years and has recently decided to share that knowledge with the world. For tons more information related to roses and pruning, please visit RoseGardenSolutions.com.
Question about pruning rose bushes?
I have just bought a few rose bushes and was wondering how to prune them. They have some dead flowers on them and the stem were the dried up flowers are has turned brown (dead I guess) too. Do I just cut right under the brown part? I not real sure how and where to cut at.
Any help would be great! That for your time and information!
I really don’t know alot about roses, but I think they are so pretty and I wanted to at their beauty to my gardens. So I would love any info on how to keep the beautiful and to continue to bloom.
Thank you!
Don’t do any real pruning this time of year; just snip off the dead stuff and plant the bushes. You do need to cut into the green portion slightly.
Since they are new, you probably won’t need to prune them for the first year. Remove dead flowers when they fade while the plant is blooming; this will keep the plant from setting seed, and triggering the plant to quit blooming.
After they have bloomed next spring/summer, then you will want to prune them properly. Cut away any dead material; also remove any stems/branches that point “inward” into the body of the bush, rather than outward.
Be sure to use a systemic fungicide on your roses, as well as bone meal if your soil needs it. The best people to talk to are those at a local nursery; they will know about the needs of roses in your area of the country.
Enjoy!
Pruning Roses