Tips for pruning your prized roses

Pruning and deadheading are important parts of your rose care routine. There are as many different opinions about how and when to prune as there are roses in need of pruning.

While individual rosarians may have their favorite "tried and true" methods, this article is geared towards new rosarians who have no idea where to start. As time goes by you may feel the urge to modify these techniques or even develop some new ones of your own. That's great. Variety is the spice of life and anything that doesn't kill your roses can't be that bad, right?

Rose pruning isn't as complicated as some people make it out to be. In fact, there are only four basic rules and a few common sense ones. If you keep these basic rules in mind every time you pick up your pruning shears, you'll be rewarded with beautiful bushes that reflect the care that you put into them.

1. Always keep the center of your bushes free of growth. This denies insects a place to live, and allows good air circulation which helps to keep down the instances of fungus infection.

2. Always remove any dead or decayed growth. This keeps your bushes looking better and also denies disease and insects a place to call home.

3. Shape your rose bushes as they grow. This adds symmetry to your garden and transforms your bushes from wild and wooly to prim and proper like all good roses should be.

4. Remove crossing branches to promote stronger growth,

Common sense rules

Always using sharp pruning shears and clean the shears after use to remove any disease or fungus spores.

Seal the cuts you've made to keep out disease. Save your money and use regular Elmer's glue. it works just fine and it's a lot cheaper than commercial preparations.

Here's a look at common pruning terms and techniques as well as some guidelines for what types of roses to use them with.

Hard or "Low" Pruning

Cut canes back to three or four buds from the base or the bud unions. The end result is strong canes which are about 4 to 5 inches in length.

This pruning technique works best with new hybrid tea, grandiflora, and floribunda varieties. You should not do hard pruning with established bushes because they may not recycle. The only exception is as a last-ditch effort to revive sick or neglected bushes.

Moderate or Medium Pruning

Cut strong stems back to approximately half of their length. Weaker stems may be cut back even more if needed.

This technique works fine with established gardens of floribundas, hybrid teas, grandifloras, and tree roses.

Light or High/Long Pruning

Cut the canes back to around 2/3 of their length. After all unwanted wood is removed any remaining stems are "tipped".

Light pruning is not generally recommended for most bushes as it tends to produce early blooms and poorly developed flowers. Use this technique only if others are not working and the bush is an eyesore to begin with.