Although there is some controversy with the timing of pruning roses, late fall and winter seem to be appropriate for most parts of the country. Once there is a frost, it should be safe to prune a rose plant without causing damage. Yet in the coldest winter some roses will stay green and bloom in protected areas up to January and February. This is why some people like to prune theirs in the spring.
If your roses are very tall or leggy, you should prune them before winter ice and snow, along with high winds, can cause more damage than pruning in the cold. Once the buds start to swell in the spring, then prune away.
Techniques
Make sure you wear leather gloves and have a sharp pair of pruning shears. Long sleeves and pants are also a good idea.
Remove dead canes that are brown or black. Healthy canes will be green on the outside and cream-colored on the inside. You may need to use lopping shears to remove the dead canes at the base as these tend to be quite thick and woody. Next look for suckers growing up from the roots of the rose plant. You may have to dig down below ground-level to find the base of the sucker; if you cut it off too high, it will continue to grow and take energy away from the plant. Prune canes that cross and rub against each other. Remove any canes that are smaller than a pencil. If you plant is tall and leggy you might want to prune it down to a decent height; you can cut back the plant to within 18 inches of the base, but usually you should only remove about one-third of the growth. A size of two to three feet is normal in a regular rose.
Remove every leaf from newly pruned bushes, as diseases can remain on the plant through the winter. Once pruning is done, apply a dormant spray to reduce insects and disease in the upcoming season.
Pruning for Various Types of Roses
Some roses require more pruning than others. New varieties, especially “Knock-Out” roses, only require pruning to maintain the shape. They are a self dead-heading variety that blooms throughout the growing season. Species roses don’t require very much pruning, either. Hybrid tea roses require the most pruning so that they will bloom. Each type of rose will have a different pruning need. Look at the growth habit of your rose and try to match the pruning to the rose. Some roses are naturally tall and bushy, so be sure not to prune it down too severely and make sure it still looks kind of bushy when you are done pruning. Clear out any tangled canes on the interior of the plant to promote good air circulation. This will prevent disease.
When using your curved-edge pruning shears, always remember to cut canes and branches at a 45 degree angle about a quarter-inch away from the bud, and have the cut face the outside of the plant. You can apply a little bit of white school glue to the cuts. This will keep insects such as cane borers from getting into and destroying the plant.
A cut at the correct angle and distance from the bud
Modern Ever-Blooming Roses & Floribunda: These plants bloom best on the current year’s growth. Prune away one half to two-thirds of the plant in the spring and remove old woody stems. Leave 3 to 5 healthy canes evenly spaced around the plant. Cut them to lengths from 18 - 24 inches, which will ensure continuous blooming.
Hybrid Teas & Grandiflora Roses: These roses bloom on new wood and should be pruned in early spring. Remove the center stems and crossing stems to create a vase-like shape. Reduce the length of the remaining stems by about 1/2, or down to 18 - 24 inches. You can leave strong, older growth to be slightly longer than the new growth.
Modern Shrub Roses: These are repeat bloomers that bloom on mature, woody stems that are not too old. Don’t prune them for the first 2 years; then remove one-third of the oldest canes, as well as any dead, diseased or dying canes, every year. This is commonly referred to as the “one-third” method.
Climbers: Climbers may repeat bloom. Prune early to remove winter damage and dead wood. Prune after flowering to keep their size in check.
Bourbons and Portlands: These will repeat bloom, blooming on both new and old wood. Prune to remove dead wood before flowering. A hard pruning and shaping can be done after the first flowering.
Centifolia, Damasks: These roses only bloom once on old wood, so they don’t require a lot of pruning. Prune after flowering to remove dead wood and maintain shape.
A few simple tips can keep your roses looking health and ready to bloom next spring.
