How to Prune Spent Roses Down to Leaflets

Proper pruning of roses improves the chances of having a healthier bush with more abundant blooms. There are some simple steps when choosing where to prune your rose after the blooms are spent. Here are the basics.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pruning shears
• Gardening gloves

1. Consider bush shape and size. Roses tend to be particularly vigorous when they first “push” in the spring, and branches can get leggy. Decide roughly how far back you want to cut the branch first.

2. Look at the leaflet clusters. Rose leaves usually cluster in groups of five and seven. Each type of cluster results in a somewhat different growth pattern.

3. Cut for new blooms. If you want to stimulate blooms, cut the rose branch at a five-leaflet cluster. Prune about a ¼ inch above where the leaf stem meets the branch--the new bud is tucked in there. The resulting branch will be shorter and bloom sooner.

4. Cut for new branches. If you want to stimulate new branch growth (which will result in new blooms at the end, but it will take longer) cut the rose branch at the seven-leaflet cluster. Prune about a ¼ inch above where the leaf stem meets the branch-the new bud is set in there.

5. Clean up all debris and dispose of properly to avoid pests and disease wintering on the trimmings.

Tips & Warnings

• When pruning, always prune at an angle to prevent standing water on the “open wound” of the branch. This helps it seal more quickly.
• Some gardeners like to seal the open cuts on shrubs and bushes to minimize infection. For an environmentally friendly and child-safe option, consider using water-based Elmer’s glue.
• Don't spray water on the bush immediately after pruning; you may increase the risk of infection on the “cut” because it literally is open. Give the "cut" a few hours to seal over.
• Rose thorn scratches can become infected. Clean scratches with soap and water, and then apply a disinfectant or antibiotic ointment.

Resources

• Jackson & Perkins Roses