Pruning roses is the best way to keep your shrubs and climbers healthy, and blooming their best.
In this post, you’ll learn when to do it, and the best tools to use. Then I will show you step-by-step exactly how to prune roses.
Roses are one of the easiest plants to learn how to prune, and you really can’t overdo it. Plus it’s very beneficial to the plant.
Trimming roses triggers healthy new growth, prevents disease, and creates tons of gorgeous blooms. If you’ve never done it before, or your roses are looking sad and overgrown, then this is for you.
Don’t worry. When pruning, roses are very forgiving, and will recover even if you make mistakes when you’re cutting them back.
Below I’m going to help you break through the fear, and show you exactly when and how to trim a rose bush, step-by-step.
Do Roses Need To Be Pruned?
It’s easy to neglect roses, because they don’t need to be pruned regularly in order to grow and bloom year after year.
But, if you want to keep them healthy and full of flowers, trimming helps a ton! If you never cut them back, over time they will bloom less, and look more scraggly.
It may sound scary, but it’s actually really easy. And the good news is that you really can’t kill a rose by over pruning it.
Why You Should Prune Roses
As I already mentioned, if you never trim them, rose bushes and climbers won’t bloom as prolifically. But there are other benefits too. Pruning roses on a regular basis…
- encourages tons of flowers
- helps to prevent fungus and disease
- triggers healthy new growth
- gets rid of ugly, damaged, or dead canes
- results in a fuller and bushier plant
- keeps them looking their best
When To Prune Roses
Late winter or early spring is the best time to trim roses. Pruning triggers fresh, healthy new growth, which is exactly what you want to do in the spring.
But don’t do it too early, or a hard freeze could kill the tender new growth. On the flip side, pruning too late could end up cutting off most of the flowers for the year.
So how can you figure out when to do it? The easiest way to make sure you’re getting the timing right is to wait until you see new buds on the plant.
You can prune rose bushes as soon as you see the buds starting to pop, or you can wait until the leaves are just beginning to grow.
Tools For Pruning Rose Bushes
Quality tools really do make a huge difference when pruning and cutting back roses. The canes are woody, and can become very thick. Plus they are thorny, which makes it a bit more difficult (and painful, LOL).
So you’ll need a few sizes of pruners to get the job done safely and efficiently. Here’s what you’ll need for pruning…
Supplies Needed:
- Heavy duty hand pruners
- Loppers (for cutting the thickest stems)
- Thick work gloves or rose gloves
- Hand rake (optional)
Proper Rose Pruning Techniques
When pruning roses, make each cut about 1/4″ above a healthy bud. Anything between the cut and the bud will die back. And you don’t want a bunch of ugly dead canes sticking out everywhere.
To figure out where to cut each branch, find the first bud on the healthy part of a stem. Then make your cut right above that.
If you still feel uncertain when pruning, another way to do it is to start close to the top, and keep cutting back until you see green inside the stem. Then you can find the next bud down from there to make your final cut.
Healthy canes are green around the inside edge, and lighter green or even white in the middle. Unhealthy or dead canes are brown or gray in the middle, so keep cutting until that dead stuff is gone.
Also, try to make each of the cuts at a downward angle to keep water from entering the wound, and causing rot.
How To Trim Rose Bushes Step-By-Step
Pruning roses is easy, I promise. Really, the hardest part in this whole process is keeping yourself from getting pricked by the thorns.
If you’re trimming more than one bush, it’s a good idea to disinfect your tools between each to prevent the spread of disease. Wipe the blades with rubbing alcohol, or wash them with soapy water to clean them.
Here’s a quick overview of the steps, with more detailed instructions below…
- Remove all the dead branches
- Prune out the damaged stems
- Remove any crossing canes
- Clean up all debris around the base of the plant
Step 1: Remove all the dead canes – Pruning out the dead rose canes and winter damaged branches first will make the rest of the steps much easier, because you’re basically clearing the clutter.
It’s usually pretty simple to spot the dead branches, because most of the time they’re brown or gray in color.
But healthy stems can be brown too, so sometimes you need to make a cut before you can tell if the cane is dead. Dead canes are brown on the inside, so if you don’t see any green, keep on cutting.
Step 2: Prune out any damaged canes – Branches that are cracked, broken or otherwise damaged should be removed, even if they’re still alive.
Damaged canes are an invitation for pests and disease, and we don’t want to deal with any of that. So, find the next bud below the damaged portion of the stem, and make your cut just above that.
Step 3: Remove any crossing canes – What I mean by crossing canes are any stems that are overlapping and touching each other.
The reason we want to remove crossing canes is because they can rub together in the wind, and damage each other over time. Keep the stem that’s in the best shape, and remove the other one.
In the photo below, I removed the smaller stem in front because it already had quite a bit of damage on it, and the other cane looked much healthier.
Step 4: Clean up all debris around the base – This sounds like a silly step that you could just skip after trimming rose bushes, but it’s actually really important.
It’s essential to clean up all debris around the bottom of the plant after you’re done pruning, in order to remove any diseased material.
It’s also good to remove any mulch or leaves that are covering, or right up against the base of the stem to help prevent rotting.
I use a hand rake for this job rather than my hands because I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten stuck by a thorn doing this.
Be careful though, you don’t want to damage the stem or any new buds that are down there.
This spring my climber got quite the haircut. I chose to do a heavy pruning because it’s been a few years since the last time I’ve done it.
If this is your first time trimming roses, then you might feel more comfortable stopping much sooner than I did. I don’t want you to panic if you end up cutting off more than you meant to.
So start small, and work your way into it if that makes you feel more comfortable. But remember, you’re not going to kill a healthy rose plant by over-pruning it.
FAQs About Pruning & Trimming Roses
In this section, I’ll answer some of the most commonly asked questions about trimming roses. If you can’t find your answer, then ask it in the comments below.
What is the best time of year to prune roses?
The best time of year to prune roses is late winter or early spring, just as the buds are starting to develop, but before the leaves begin to open.
Is it OK to prune roses in autumn?
Yes, you can trim roses in autumn, but it’s very important to wait until after the first hard frost. If you do it too early, it can trigger new growth that will only be killed during the winter, which can damage the plant.
The purpose of pruning roses in fall is to remove any tender new growth, and tall, or overgrown branches. This will help to prevent wind and winter damage to the main canes.
Can I cut my rose bush to the ground?
Yes, but it’s not usually necessary. The only reason for cutting rose bushes to the ground is if all of the canes are either severely damaged or dead.
It’s better to follow the steps above to give them a heavy pruning, rather than just cutting them down to the ground.
How much should I prune roses?
You should trim back roses as much as they need it in order to remove all of the dead and damaged canes. They are very hardy, and can handle a heavy pruning.
Do you trim a rose after it blooms?
You don’t need to trim a rose bush after it blooms, but deadheading can help to encourage more flowers to open. To deadhead roses, simply snip or pull off the faded flowers.
Pruning roses is an important part of their maintenance, and early spring is the perfect time to do it. Not only will you be rewarded with tons of flowers, but your shrubs and climbers will be much healthier.
More Posts About Pruning
- How To Deadhead Petunias By Pinching & Pruning
- How To Trim Tree Branches: A Step-By-Step Guide For Beginners
- Pruning Russian Sage: Step-By-Step Instructions
- How To Sharpen Pruning Shears For The Perfect Cut Every Time
- How To Prune Hydrangeas Step By Step
Give us your best tips for pruning roses in the comments below.
Judi Hartmaier says
I live in WA state on the west side. I have a couple of roses that climb. How much should I take off of them? Do you also take the leaves off when you prune in February? The leaves look healthy. Just want to make sure I have plenty of rose blooms this summer. And when do I fertilize? Is it ok to put new compost around the rose after pruning?
Amy Andrychowicz says
If this is your first time pruning your roses and you’re worried about overdoing it, then I would just remove any dead or damaged canes and leave the rest alone. However, if you’re feeling brave, you can cut it back quite a bit, so take off as much as you’d like to shape it how you want it. However, on the flip side, there’s no need to remove the new/healthy canes/leaves, unless you want the branches shorter or need to cut them to train them.
Margaret Kelly says
My rose bushes have a lot of green moss around their base why is this? N. Ireland
Amy Andrychowicz says
Moss grows when there’s lots of moisture. If you irrigate your rose bush, then I would slow down on how much water you’re giving it.
Pat jones says
My roses are getting tall and there are a couple of buds still on can I cut them down one august/sept
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you live in a cold climate, then it’s best to wait until late winter or very early spring to prune your roses.
Jennifer G Horn says
How often do you water and feed rose bushes after a heavy pruning? And how long after a heavy pruning will they start to grow? It’s been a couple of weeks now and mine seem stagnant.
Amy Andrychowicz says
If it’s still chilly where you are, then your pruned roses won’t start putting on new growth until the temps warm up to consistently above freezing. Wait to fertilize them until the new leaves begin to emerge.
Ingrid Forward says
I did not see comments of best way to haul the clipped rose branches without getting stabbed/cut/pricked by the thorns. I was wasting time cutting them into lengths that would fit a reusable bag. Problem solved using a tarp. The length of clipped branches will not matter. I put them on the tarp as they are removed. When there are enough to haul away, I fold up one end, pull the sides up making sure the end stays folded. When I pull the sides together I roll them making it easy to carry my thorny load to dumpster. I tip the tarp in, loosen the makeshift handle, letting the branches fall inside. Then I return to beds and start on the next 2 or 3 bushes.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great, thanks for you tips for hauling away the prickly rose clippings with ease!
Nicolle says
Hello! Im from Prescott, Arizona. This is my first time ever pruning my rose bushes. I moved in to my home about 3 years ago and the roses came with the house. Not sure if they’ve ever been taken care of properly. This year they’ve grown to almost almost 6 feet in height. They’re all intertwined, have broken pieces stuck in the middle of the 3 bushes, and even had birds residing in them at some point. I figured that because it is the middle of December and we’ve had a few big frosts this week now was the time to do it. After reading your article I can see that maybe I was wrong in the timing? I’m not very great with plants plus I took a whole lot off the bushes. Did I kill them?
Amy Andrychowicz says
No, your timing is perfect. Mid-December through January is a great time to prune roses in Arizona. I hope they will grow back fuller and flower beautifully for you next year! 🙂
Deb Corbett says
Hi I live in Indianapolis, Indiana – we had our first hard frost last night – I’m going to prune my roses today – I have been waiting – they have grown way too large and spindly for the deaf variety I needed for the the area – I’m going to follow your steps and hope for the best! Thank you!
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you haven’t pruned your roses yet, I recommend waiting until late winter or very early spring. Pruning them in the fall could cause new leaves to grow on warmer fall days, which you don’t want going into winter.
Donna Fiori says
I have a leggy rose bush. There is a lot of green branches with no buds. Do have to wait to cut them down to the rest of the bush. they look healthy but have no buds.
Amy Andrychowicz says
No, you don’t have to wait to prune your leggy rose bush, especially if there aren’t any buds on it currently. But just keep in mind that, depending on where you live, it may not bloom again until next year.
Sacheen says
Hello, welp I got a bug up my butt when I saw a rose pruning video on Youtube and I pruned my roses too early (should’ve done more research). I am a novice so gardening and taking care of outdoor plants is new to me. I live in Nor-Cal and am hoping there are some steps to try and help save them from dying or getting too damaged during the Winter.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no! Well, the best you can do is protect the tender new growth that pops out from the pruned rose branches from freezing temperatures. If it will get below freezing, then I would cover them with a blanket at night. But, that’s only if they have brand new shoots. Otherwise, they should be fine.
Cindy Josley says
Can I prune my rose bush now, it’s in the middle of summer?
Amy Andrychowicz says
You can prune your rose bush in summer to remove any dead canes, or damaged/diseased canes as necessary. But I would wait to trim it for shape and size until right before it buds out in late winter/early spring.
Georgia says
I am new at this so have been searching for cross section photos of dead wood and live wood. Many of mine are half fresh wood with with what looks like dry wood in the center. Can anyone help?? Thank you for this site as I have searched many with no mention of what the cross section actually looks like.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome, glad you found this rose pruning tutorial helpful! 🙂 If I’m understanding your question correctly, it sounds like you’re saying that the canes are green around the outside, and brown in the middle? That sounds like a live branch to me. Dead rose canes are completely brown and dried out. The best way to tell is to look for new buds on the stem. If there aren’t any new buds on that particular stem, and it’s brown and brittle, then it is probably dead, and safe to remove. If there aren’t any new buds on your rose bush at all, or they are hard to see, then you may want to wait a little longer to prune it to make it easier to spot the dead canes. Hope that helps.
Peter. says
Cut my roses down evenly to about 6 inches above the ground and removed all debris around the bottoms. Branches were dark brown and burned them along with my garden rakings. Did I overdo it? Hoping for the best.
Amy Andrychowicz says
It sounds to me like you pruned your roses correctly. As long as those dark brown branches were still alive, then I would expect you’ll see new growth any day.
Julie M says
Can I prune my rose bushes with blooms on them. There is so many blooms and they are falling to the ground. I didn’t know if you could prune it with blooms or not. Also, there is several buds that haven’t bloomed yet.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You could prune to remove any dead or diseased canes at any time, but it’s best to prune your roses in early spring before they start growing. If they are really out of control, you can prune them for size after they’re done blooming. Otherwise, if you want to prune them while they’re blooming, it just means you’ll be cutting off the flowers, so that’s up to you. But then you can bring them inside and put them into vases! 🙂
Christina Edward says
HI!! I live in North Carolina and was wondering if it is ok to maybe do some sort of pruning to my roses in the summer time? I have some dead buds on my bushes now and they are quite tall my roses….I’m 5’2″ and they are taller than me! But I’m not that familiar with roses and I’m afraid to kill my plant if I take off the dead buds now. Please help. BTW, I’m loving this site and will be bookmarking you. I’m a new homeowner and recently taking on MANY gardening tasks with a veggie/fruit garden & an entire front yard garden project for my front walk way & 2 front corners where my 1/2 circle driveway is ( I already started a planted perennial garden there)
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thanks for your nice comment about the site, glad you like it! Yes, you can deadhead your roses (i.e.: remove the dead flowers), and also prune out dead growth at any time during the year. They are very hard, so you don’t have to worry about killing them by over-pruning. Good luck with all of your projects, sounds like fun!
Christina Edward says
Thanks. 2 more questions, can we prune roses in the fall? My bushes have really taken off and I’m impressed. Also what does a rose hips look like? I’d like to attempt growing more from those seeds in other areas of my homestead.
Amy Andrychowicz says
It’s best to wait until late winter/early spring to prune your roses. Rose hips can range in color from dark to bright red, or even orange on some plants. They look like berries, you can’t miss them.
Eva Ruth Darlington says
Funny I live in Salt Lake City, Utah and yes Rose Bush yes can be killed by pruning. My son in law’s mother decided to do this in fall. She didn’t know what she was doing. In spring she founded her Rose Bushes dead. So it is very wise to learn how to do this and know climate one lives in. Thank you for the info.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you’re right, it’s definitely important to know how to prune roses before doing it.
Cynthia hernandez says
Thanks for this! Every time i prune my roses i am saying “sorry sweetie” to them. I cut a cane…”sorry”…another one..”you’ll be ok”..Now i know that they are as tough as they look!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Haha, too funny! Yes, roses are very tough, and can take a heavy pruning. Glad I could help to put your mind at ease! 🙂