| For years rose pruning has been presented as a | | | | the lower edge of the cut is still above the top of |
| complicated affair of well defined rules and | | | | the bud. |
| precise, well timed cuts. Then, a few years ago, | | | | You should also remove all dead, damaged or |
| new research showed it might all be a waste of | | | | weak wood and thin out the center of the plant. |
| time. So how should you prune your roses? Why | | | | Pruning should be carried out annually in early |
| do roses need to be pruned? Rose pruning is | | | | spring. It is now known that, although the results |
| important for two main reasons. The first is that, | | | | will not be quite as good, all bush roses can be |
| left un-pruned, the plant will get big and straggly, | | | | pruned roughly, cutting all stems back to 8 inches |
| with an ugly bare base, the second is that the | | | | once every few years without worrying about |
| stems will bear flowers for only a few years | | | | cutting to just above the bud. |
| before becoming exhausted. Pruning tackles both | | | | You can even use a hedge trimmer if you have a |
| problems in one go, keeping the plant small and | | | | lot of roses and time is short. Prune lightly as |
| the shoots young and vigorous. | | | | cutting back severely will encourage over vigorous |
| The same basic rules apply when rose pruning as | | | | shoots that may spoil the shape. Shorten the |
| for any other shrub, so use sharp, clean blades | | | | main stems in the head and any side shoots. |
| and a pair of thorn proof gloves. The traditional | | | | Prune standards in late winter or early spring, but |
| method of pruning bush roses is probably still the | | | | prune weeping standards after flowering, in |
| most reliable. Cut back all the stems of large | | | | summer. Prune lightly, either annually or once |
| flowered hybrid tea roses by about half their | | | | every other year. Remove between a quarter |
| length. Cut back old stems of cluster flowered | | | | and a half of the new growth and cut out any |
| roses to the base. The remaining younger stems | | | | dead, diseased or congested growth. Miniature |
| of cluster flowered roses should be pruned back | | | | roses require little or no pruning other than to |
| to about 18 inches. All cuts should be made just | | | | keep growth thick and compact. Use shears to |
| above a healthy, outward facing bud using a cut | | | | trim back vertical new growth in spring. Again cut |
| that slopes slightly away from the bud so that | | | | out any dead, diseased or weak growth. |