Summer Pruning of Overgrown Lady Banks Rose: How Far Is Safe?

Huge Lady Banks roses outgrew fence. Gardener asks if drastic summer pruning ruins them.

Prune After Flowering for Shape

Lady Banks blooms on OLD wood. Standard rule: prune right after flowering (sets next year's buds).

If It's Escaped Control

• Cut back to ~6 ft (lose some blooms, regain control).
• Remove thickest (oldest) canes at base.
• Then annually: after flowering, trim "fishing rod" canes.

Bloom Booster

Train canes horizontally along fence → many more flower buds.

Summer pruning is fine for size control—just know you sacrifice next spring's show on cut canes.