How to Prune Roses the Right Way

If you have a rose bush, one way to ensure it retains its beauty year after year is through pruning. Not only does pruning roses control the plant's shape and size, but removing dead, damaged, or diseased wood promotes better air circulation and improves sunlight exposure. What's more, removing old canes allows the plant to put its energy towards producing new, healthy growth. To ensure you do this annual gardening task correctly, we're sharing our tips for when and how to prune roses.

When to Prune Roses

When you prune your roses depends on what variety you're growing. "If your rose bush only blooms once per season, deadhead or prune after flowering," says Ryan McEnaney, spokesperson for Easy Elegance Roses. "If you have an everblooming or recurrent blooming rose bush, prune in late winter or early spring before new growth starts to develop." During fall, prune away dead or diseased branches and long spindly canes.

Materials Needed

Make sure you have these materials on hand when pruning a rose bush.

• Gloves: Wear long leather gloves to protect your hands from thorns when pruning your rose bush.
• Shears: Shears will be your main tool for pruning. "A bypass blade is the best as it gives a clean cut and won’t crush the remaining end of the cane," says Kelly Funk, president of Jackson & Perkins.
• Loppers: This long-handled tool will allow you to cut in the interior of the rose without getting cut by the thorns, says Funk.
• Sharpener: A sharpener will keep your blades sharp to minimize the force needed to cut through a branch and ensure a clean cut.
• Disinfectant: You should use disinfectant regularly on your tool blades, especially if you know you have used your tools on an infected plant, says Funk.

How to Prune Roses

Pruning may vary depending on if you have grafted or own-root roses. A rose grown on its own root sends up new growth directly from its root system. On the other hand, grafted roses are actually two different roses that were put together to maximize the best root system with the most beautiful top, says McEnaney. Grafted roses have suckers that need to be pruned.

1. Remove Leaves

Before you start to prune, assess the overall shape and condition of the plant. Remove last year’s leaves that may be clinging to the plant, which will give you a better view of the shrub, says McEnaney.

2. Remove Dead Branches

Next, cut any dead branches off at the crown (the base where all the branches meet). You can identify dead branches by their lack of flexibility or discoloration and prune them back to healthy tissue, says Funk.

3. Remove Damaged Branches

Damaged or diseased branches should also be removed from your rose bush to prevent illness from spreading. "Damaged or diseased branches should be cut at least 2 inches below the damaged area," says Funk.

4. Remove Crossed Branches

If there are any weak or crossing stems, cut them out completely to allow for airflow and reduce the potential for rubbing, which would increase the opportunity for disease to enter the plant, says McEnaney.

5. Remove Suckers

If you're growing grafted roses, now is the time to remove the suckers. "Suckers are extra little stems that start to develop from the base, which could be the root system and not the top of the plant that you want to see," says McEnaney. These are typically found growing below the crown.

6. Remove Tiny Buds

When you look closely at your rose bush, you will see tiny buds, or eyes, jutting from the sides. "Make cuts 1/4 inch above one of these eyes in the direction you want the branch to grow," says Funk. "A new branch will grow from here."

7. Shape Plants

Shape the plant by cutting back any rangy stems at a 45-degree angle facing away from the bud. Prune it back enough to account for new growth that will likely add height and width in the upcoming growing season, says McEnaney.

8. Seal Fresh Cuts

Seal the cuts with a garden sealant to keep them protected from unexpected cold temperatures that may occur after your final frost. "The sealant can also provide some security from disease or insects, but shrub roses are resilient plants and really don’t need much babying," says McEnaney.