Could someone tell me how to prune my roses?

Question

i have climbers and shrubs. i presume the climbers are to be left relativly alone but do i cut my shrubs right down and do i do this autum or sring?

Answer 1

Wish I knew where you live! In cold climates like mine we prune in spring when growth begins, because then you can see what has winter-killed.

Some shrub roses bloom on old growth; if you keep pruning, you may never see flowers. Be sure you know what you have. As for climbers, you should cut some of the oldest canes back to the ground every few years. As someone said, don't cut below the graft. Most roses are grafted onto wild rootstock, but you will recognize the graft union as a knobby thing at the base (unless you planted it below the ground - which is a good idea, BTW).

Answer 2

Climbers are generally best left alone. I live in zone six and late fall, when the roses are dormant, is the best time to prune roses here. However you don't want to prune them too low or you may go beyond the grafting point. Many rose varieties are grafted onto different root stock. If you cut the above shrub too low you will basically remove it and it will not grow back. I would leave 6-10 inches of canes to be on the safe side, and a little mulch around the base would be beneficial too. Good Luck!

Answer 3

rose pruning is done in july and autumn in cooler areas eg melb bush roses can be cut back hard to a forming bud union depends on how old the shrub is. Harder the better and rule of thumb alwaya to an outward facing bud. Climbers can be pruned to shape pr just left Summer pruning is ok if the shrub has become too leggy, and always prune off spen flowers, this encourages new growth

Answer 4

Actually, both. I usually do mine about four times a year, but I live in a semi-tropical climate. I think its late March and September, or after the frost and before the frost. I don't really know when that happens. You are supposed to prune 1/3 of the growth down at least twice in the growing season and about half in the end and beginning. I think in cold climates you're mostly trimming the dead off in spring. Look at Sunset online or look up gardening and I'm sure you will be able to find more things suitable for your climate.

Answer 5

This one has good diagrams, like my college books had.
http://new.bestgardening.com/bgc/plant/rosesprune01.htm

This one makes it look easy.
http://www.cemeteryrose.org/Pruning/prunehow.html

Lots of fun sources....