Propagating a Heirloom Rose: Taking Cuttings from a 25-Year-Old Bush

Simple Deadheading

Deadheading is just snapping off the spent bloom with your fingers. The old "cut to a 5-leaflet leaf" rule is unnecessary; modern research shows simple removal works fine.

Starting a New Plant

The best way to preserve your mother's rose is by taking softwood cuttings in early summer. A detailed, reliable guide is available at https://www.rdrop.com/~paul/hulse.html. Take several cuttings, as not all will root.

Transplanting the Original

Moving a 25-year-old rose is risky. If you must, do it when dormant, cut back by half, dig a massive root ball, and provide relentless aftercare.