Prune Your Roses Right: A Type-by-Type Guide

Since we typically prune roses just once a year, it's tough remembering how and when. Here's a refresher guide.

Hybrid Tea, Grandiflora, and Floribunda Roses

Cut back these roses to ~18 inches tall in early spring, just before growth starts. Forsythia bloom is a good timing indicator. In coldest climates, prune to live growth—may be as low as 8 inches depending on winter severity.

Many are grafted—watch for shoots from roots (not the rose stem). These are unwanted rootstock suckers; remove at ground level.

Though it seems drastic, this pruning yields plants with abundant, lush blooms on sturdy stems.

Climbing Roses

Climbers are trickier. Pruning time depends on type: once-a-year bloomers—prune right after flowers fade. Reblooming climbers—prune in early spring. Get more general pruning tips.

Shrub Roses

Shrub roses may need no pruning, depending on type. Many modern shrub roses require only dead/damaged growth removal. Once-a-year bloomers: lightly prune after flowers fade. Reblooming shrub roses: prune in early spring.

Tips for Pruning Roses of All Types

• Always remove dead, diseased, or damaged growth.
• When cutting diseased growth, dip pruner blades in rubbing alcohol between cuts to prevent disease spread.
• Avoid ugly stubs: cut ~¼ inch above a leaf bud.
• Prevent tangled growth: cut to a bud pointing away from the plant center. (Center-facing buds grow shoots into the middle.)
• Cut thin, weak growth. On most roses (except miniatures), remove stems thinner than a pencil.

Pruning Shrubs