Rose Prunning

Roses have the reputation of being fussy plants, but with proper prunning Roses can create a wonderful show in your garden, year after year. Here is a guide to prunning your roses based on the type or species.

David Austin English shrub roses, Romanticas, Generosas, and Towne & Country roses should be pruned from 1/3 to ½ their overall height in early spring.

Meidilands, Modern Shrubs, Polyanthas, Harkness, & Explorer roses don’t need much pruning, however they can be pruned to almost any height without any problem in early spring. Those that produce rosehips can be lightly pruned in early spring to remove any that are left on the plants.

Hybrid Teas & Floribundas should be pruned by half their height or to 12-18 inches tall in early spring.

Climbers should be pruned in early spring only to remove a few of the older, thicker canes (after 3-4 years) that no longer flower well. The remaining canes can be lightly pruned for shaping as needed.

Ramblers do not need to be pruned. They can be lightly pruned each spring to keep them within bounds.

Bourbons, Hybrid Perpetuals, Hybrid Musk, & Moss roses that rebloom, and Damasks that rebloom, should be pruned by 1/3 to ½ their height in early spring. Thin out older canes as they get thick and woody.

Rugosas should be pruned in early spring only as needed for shaping and to remove old, thick canes.

Albas, Moss (that don’t rebloom), Species, Gallicas, & Damasks (that don’t rebloom) should only be pruned in midsummer after they finish flowering to remove the older, thicker canes and shorten the remaining canes as needed for shaping.

Tea (not hybrid teas) & China roses (which includes the Butterfly Rose, ‘Mutabilis’) do not need to be pruned hard. Just remove thin canes, old canes, and dead wood in early spring to maintain their shape.

Noisettes don’t need any pruning but can be trimmed in early spring as desired to control their size.

Miniatures should be pruned in early spring as needed to remove dead wood and for shaping.

Standard or Tree roses should be pruned in early spring to develop a well-rounded shape by cutting the main branches to a length of 6 to 8 inches.

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