How to Prune Rose Bushes in the Autumn

Annual pruning of rose bushes is essential to the well-being of the plant. New blooms are produced on the new, young wood. To ensure that the new wood survives, old wood must be cut away. The more dead or dying wood that you cut away, the more the healthy wood left behind can flourish, producing beautiful plants. By pruning your rose bush on an annual basis, you also can inspect all portions of the bush to check for pests or diseases. The best time to prune is right after the dormant season, but pruning before the dormant season, autumn, is also acceptable.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears
• Gardening gloves
• Rake

Instructions

1. Remove all of the obviously dead wood, using the shears. Also, remove wood that looks diseased or is covered with lesions.

2. Cut all branches that cross through the center of the plant using the shears. Also, cut any branches that make the plant look lopsided or that stick far off of the main bush.

3. Cut back all remaining branches to the newest bud. Cut down to the bud, but do not cut off the bud, these will be the new shoots next spring. Make all cuts at a 45-degree angle so that water is more likely to roll off of the branch instead of sitting on it and rotting it.

4. Remove any dead leaves by hand. If a section of the plant was heavily affected by rust, mildew, or a fungus, remove all of the leaves from that section. Rake up all removed leaves and dispose of them away from the bush, so that the plant material doesn't make its way back to the bush.

5. Regard the cutting of flowers as a form of pruning. Cut off enough of the stem so that it will be supported in the vase, but not so much as to remove excess plant material. As a rule of thumb, "leave at least two sets of five-leaflet leaves below a healthy bud," says expert David Clark.

References

• "Sunset Western Garden Handbook"; David E. Clark; 1975