The Best Time of Year to Prune Roses

Prune roses to maintain their health.

Begin pruning roses when forsythia blooms. Rose gardeners accomplish most of their clipping in spring. To get ready, invest in a good pair of shears and a good pair of gloves.

Deadheading

Deadheading describes day-to-day summer pruning, removing dead flower blossoms before they develop seed. Gardeners preach cutting the flower stem down to the next outward facing bud, but apply this rule only to established, healthy plants. Leave first-year and weak rose bushes until they mature.

Spring Pruning

Spring pruning allows light and air inside. Remove dead or dying stalks as well as weak canes thinner than a pencil in diameter. Prune healthy canes at a 45-degree angle just above outward-facing buds.

Once Bloomers

Do not prune once-bloomer roses in the spring. Roses that bloom only once flower on year-old wood, so spring pruning eliminates blossoms. Prune once-bloomers after the bush flowers, usually in early summer.

Fall Grooming

Prune roses lightly in the fall. Remove only twiggy and unproductive growth and any dead rose canes. Leave healthy stems alone.

References

• University of Illinois: Our Rose Garden
• Texas A&M University: Pruning Methods