Tree Service Blog

Pruning Roses

Rose pruning is not as complicated as one might think. There are a few basic principles to keep in mind:

•With the exception of Rambler types, Rose pruning is best in the early spring, around Valentines Day, or President’s Day. In the fall, around Thanksgiving, it is a good idea to prune roses down enough that they will not get caught in a high wind and blown over.
•Remove any dead or obviously diseased or damaged wood.
•Remove any crossing branches, and those growing towards the inside of the plant.
•Remove all thin, frail canes that are too small to hold up a good bloom.
•Remove any suckers coming up from under the root graft.
•Use sharp, clean pruning tools. Nice sturdy gloves to thwart sharp thorns, is a good idea also.
•Always cut healthy stems at a 45 degree angle. Slant your cuts away from and approximately ¼ inch about an outward facing bud. This will direct the stem to grow towards the outside of the plant.
•Dead Heading is done through out the summer to extend flowering. Simply cut the stem, under the spent flower, back to an outward facing 5 leaflet leaf, at an angle. In the fall, allow the old roses to turn into hips, to begin dormancy.

Different varieties need some additional methods:

Hybrid Teas: Create a “V” shaped plant, with the middle of the plant open. This will increase light and air circulation. Cut the healthy stems you are going to keep to about 1/2 original length, leaving the stronger stems longer than the younger, thinner stems.

Floribunda and Grandiflora roses: These are not much different than Tea’s, except it is not as important to leave the center open. Prune the canes at different lengths to help insure continuous blooming.

Miniature Roses: Miniature roses require little pruning, other than pruning them to your preferred shape.

Rambler roses: Rambler’s are once blooming roses and should be pruned when they are finished blooming, rather than early spring. Ramblers grow a new set of canes that will bloom each year. The flowers are formed on year old canes, which should be cut back to within 2-3 inches of their base, preparing them to set new buds for the coming season.

Climbing Roses: Climbers are repeat bloomers and need to be pruned in the early spring. They do not do well with hard pruning like Tea’s do. Remove any dying or diseased canes, and reduce side shoots to around 6 inches to stimulate flower production.