Roses are on everyone’s “to-do” list when constructing a garden of their own.  When proper TLC (Tender-loving-care) is administered, they produce healthy foliage along with the vibrant and robust flowers that has made them so popular for many centuries.  In establishing healthy roses, pruning is a very important factor that proves crucial.  Pruning roses also aids with retaining the vigor of the plant while removing damaging diseases and infestations. 

Growing roses is very rewarding and knowing when to prune roses is as crucial as watering and supplying nutrients to them. When to prune can vary depending on the types of roses you are growing.

Climbing roses

Climbing roses should be pruned immediately after the flowers begin to bloom during the springtime.  Simply cut back the length of the laterals six to twelve inches.  Climbing Hybrid Tea Roses should be pruned once they are established.  Knowing when to prune your roses is very important, especially if you are growing the “climbing” type because it helps in retaining the climbing habit.  After approximately two years, ensure you remove the oldest wood.

Grandifloras, Hybrid Perpetuals and Floribundas

These varieties should be pruned after swelling of the buds occurs in the spring.  Grandifloras need to have their canes removed after two years from the base of the plant.  Floribundas should be pruned until the second bud below the flower head.  Hybrid Perpetuals are pruned by simply taking away disease-infested growths while thinning them leaving eight healthy shoots with ample space between them.

Hybrid Teas, Polyanthus and Shrubs

It is not necessary to heavily prune these varieties.  These roses require pruning immediately after flowering begins in the spring.  Remove the old canes, diseased woods, and any part that fails to bloom.  When the blooms appear, remove dead branches, diseased wood and recent flowered canes while leaving the new shoots unpruned.

Facts to know before pruning

The roses should be matured.  Roses will not survive pruning without proper maturity and this takes approximately one year after planting.  Many people are confused about when the best time is to prune their roses. It largely depends upon the climate where you live but generally it is very late in the winter or very early in the spring.

How can I tell when the roses are ready for pruning?

Study the roses and when you view swelling buds, this is a sure sign that rose pruning should be performed.  You will develop a good knowledge of exactly when to prune roses as you gain experience. You will be ensuring the plant’s health and guaranteeing yourself more beautiful blooms next season.