- Author: Lee Oliphant
- Editor: Noni Todd
Pruning Roses
By Lee Oliphant, Master Gardener
Now is the time that all “good gardeners” start thinking about pruning. Start with roses. They are tolerant of mistakes and you can apply the principles of pruning to larger shrubs and trees, without getting out your ladder. Roses should be pruned around the time of the last frost and before they start putting out new growth
It helps in pruning if you know the types of roses you have.
Hybrid Teas produce large, single flowers on plants that can grow two to four feet. Prune four to six canes to one to three feet depending on the size of shrub you desire.
- Floribunda roses produce many flowers on each stem. Floribundas are generally smaller than hybrid teas and are pruned by heading back the canes to about 1/3 of their length.
- Shrub and old roses have a twiggy growth habit. Minimum pruning is desirable as they flower on old wood.
- Climbing roses and ramblers are best left to climb and ramble the first few years after planting. Limit the number of canes to about four to six. When mature, prune the lateral shoots that develop from the main cane back to two or three growth buds.
- Tree roses need only to be pruned on the grafted bushy head. Prune it according to the type of rose that has been grafted at the top, following the directions above.
If all of this seems too complicated, just use your instincts. Take out weak or damaged wood. Don’t worry too much about “five leaflet leaf sets”, etc. Too many rules will frustrate you. Keep it simple. As a rule of thumb, don’t reduce the height of a rose more than 1/3. If you planted a tall rose in a space where you’d like a short one, move it and plant one that is the appropriate size.
Approach rose pruning with confidence. It’s hard to make a mistake. A rose is forgiving and roses grow back quickly. Get out your gloves and clippers and get started.
For more details on pruning roses visit www.ucanr.edu and search for “rose pruning”. You’ll find tips on pruning roses of all types.