How to Prune a Potted Rose Bush

Potted rose bushes need regular pruning.

A potted rose bush thrives with proper care and attention. Regular pruning encourages new growth and keeps your potted rose bush healthy. Pruning a potted rose at the right time is important to avoid weakening the branches due to loss of sap or injury from cold weather. For an attractive rose bush, prune it in the spring when you see the flower buds start to swell.

Things You'll Need

• Gardening gloves
• Pruning shears
• Glue (white, water-soluble)

Instructions

1. Put on the gardening gloves to protect your hands from the thorns on the potted rose bush.

2. Hold the pruning shears at a 45-degree angle and cut off diseased, damaged or dead wood 1 inch below the affected area.

3. Look at the center of the branch remaining on the rose bush. If it's light to dark brown, prune the branch down until you see white.

4. Prune branches that are weak, crossed over each another or stick out horizontally from the sides of the rose bush.

5. Pinch or cut off suckers found near the base of the rose bush.

6. Apply white, water-soluble glue to the tops of cut branches to prevent rose cane borers from infesting the potted rose.

Tips & Warnings

• Prune rose bushes with clean, sharp pruning shears.

• Start with the outside branches, working toward the center of the potted rose when you prune.

• Branches that are crossed can create a wound in the bark, leaving the rose bush vulnerable to diseases.

• Potted rose bushes should look like a vase after pruning.

References

• Ohio State University Extension: Fertilizing, Pruning and Winterizing Roses
• North Carolina State University Extension: Roses for North Carolina

Resources

• Purdue University Cooperative Extension: Roses