How to Prune Tea Roses

With so many rose-producing plants, hybrid tea roses remain one of home gardeners' favorite rose varieties. These simple flowers are easy to grow and only require one annual pruning to keep flower production abundant and beautiful.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Sharp bypass pruners
• Long-handled loppers
• Pruning saw

Instructions

1. Prune your tea roses before new growth begins, usually in late January when roses are dormant.

2. Remove the dead, weak, shriveled wood. Old unnecessary canes are dark brown, gray or black.

3. Cut all canes that touch or cross over each other. Make the cut as close to the base as possible.

4. Prune all of the young, strong canes back about one third of the length. Any remaining buds should face toward the outside of the plant.

5. Protect the branches of your tea roses by applying white glue to your cuts.

6. Your tea rose plant should only have about 4 to 6 canes left when you are finished pruning.

Tips & Warnings

• Hold your pruning shears with the blade down and the hook side up in order to make a clean cut.

• If you live in the high elevation West, wait until the weather is warmer before pruning your tea roses. Cold winter frost can damage your plants.

Resources

• How and When to Prune Your Roses