How to Prune Floribunda Roses

Floribunda roses are continuous blooming roses known for their clusters of blooms on medium-length stems. Fragrant and colorful, they grow between 2 to 5 feet tall, and quickly cover a rose bush with their lovely blooms. Proper pruning of Floribunda roses can result in a healthier bush with more abundant blooms. Here’s how.

Things You'll Need

• Lopping shears or pruning saw
• Gardener’s gloves
• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Prune most aggressively during winter or early spring, depending on where you live. Prune when the plant is dormant–all the leaves have dropped off, and there are no visible signs of growth. At this time you should remove all dead or diseased wood.

2. Remove any canes that cross or lay on top of each other. Snip out twigs and branches out the center of the bush to ensure light and air can circulate.

3. Prune gently during blooming and growing season. Shape the plant by pruning branches back depending on what you want the bush to do. 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 patterns.

4. 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.

5. Cut for new branches. If you want to stimulate new branch growth (which will result in new blooms at the end, but will take longer) cut the rose branch at the 7-leaflet cluster. Prune about a ¼ inch above where the leaf stem meets the branch--the new bud is set in there.

6. Watch out for die back (branches turn yellow or black, then die) or diseased wood. This can occur throughout the season, and should be promptly pruned out.

7. Remove weak or spindly shoots and suckers throughout the season, and “pinch” off the roses as soon as they have passed their peak.

8. Clean up all debris and dispose of it properly to avoid pests and disease gathering on the trimmings.

Tips & Warnings

• Always prune the branch at an angle. 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.

• Try not to spray water on the bush immediately after pruning; you may increase the risk of infection on the still-open “cuts.” 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
• American Rose Society