Pruning Roses for Health andBeautyRoses look better and tend to grow healthier when they’re pruned correctly. Here’s how to prune the mostpopular types of roses.

There are plenty of good reasons to prune a rosebush. Maybe you want to remove diseased canes and deadwoodcaused by winterkill. Or perhaps you’d like to shape plants, open up their structure to allow in more sunlight, or just keepthem from looking like a tangled mess. Whatever the reason, here are some strategies to ensure success.

WHERE TO MAKE THE CUT: Three of these four stems show animproper cut. From left to right: The first is a rough cut that won’t sealeasily; the second is badly angled, directing water toward the bud;the third shows a cut made too far from the bud, leaving a largeportion of the stem to eventually die back. The fourth stem is prunedcorrectly -- the cut is located within 1/4 inch of the bud and angled inthe opposite direction.

DEADHEADING: Deadheading -- or removing faded flowers -- is done from late spring to early fall. Cut back to a strong,outward-facing stem, preferably one with five leaflets. The plant will look neater and the cut will encourage new growthand even repeat blooming on some varieties.

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GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS: In spring, before new growthstarts, remove dead, damaged, and diseased stems. It’s also a goodtime to repair any structural issues, such as stems that are growinginward, crossing, or rubbing against each other. In summer, removeany suckers (stray shoots arising from the base of the plant).

PRUNING MODERN ROSES: So-called modern roses aregrandifloras, floribundas, and hybrid teas. Each spring, remove one-third to one-half of the plant’s height. This will cause the plant to putout healthy new growth covered with blooms. On old-time roses thatbloom on older canes (such as species roses), wait to prune untilafter flowering.

And here’s what a modern rose looks like after pruning.

PRUNING SHRUB ROSES: Shrub roses are popular due to their disease resistance and easy maintenance. That easymaintenance carries over to pruning, too. Shrub roses generally don’t need much pruning, other than removing weak,spindly, or old stems. Lightly prune outer stems in early spring to maintain a compact size. On old shrub roses with acrowded habit, remove thick, older stems that are no longer productive.

Here’s what a shrub rose looks like after being thinned out.

PRUNING CLIMBING ROSES: Leave newly planted climbers alonefor the first two or three years, tying stems to supports as the plantgrows. Climbing roses bloom on stems that are two years old, so aimto keep a balance of new and old wood to ensure current and futureblooming. Pruning climbers is best done in fall so that you can easilyrecognize both new and old growth.

Here is a climbing rose after pruning.

PRUNING RAMBLING ROSES: As with climbers, avoid heavy pruning the first two or three years so that plants canbecome established. Let canes grow freely the first year, then tie them to supports at the start of the second growingseason. In early spring of the third year, remove at ground level all canes that bloomed the previous season. Leave newgrowth in place to supply this year’s flower show. Repeat annually.

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Here’s what a rambling rose looks like after being cut back.

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