how far do you cutback a rose bush? when do you do it?

Answer 1

Happy pruning :)

General Pruning:
You do this to remove any dead or dying canes or spent flowers. You need to pick a set of five leaves, but not necessarily the first set. Pick a set of five that are pointing outward because that will be the direction of a new cane and flowers. If you choose one pointing inward then your canes can cross and will cause other problems. Cut the cane at an angle like this (/) about 1/4" above the five leaf set. It is okay to do this with each cane and especially if the cane is dying. It is also okay to do this throughout the growing season because it promotes new growth. Also, it is important to seal any pruned cane the size of a pencil or larger with white glue to protect the wound and promote faster healing.

Autumn Pruning:
Any time between the first freeze of Autumn and the last freeze of winter you can seriously prune your rose down to about 2 feet. This will create a fuller, lusher plant for the new season. Once again you will want to cut at an angle. However, instead of cutting above a five leaf set, this time you will want to cut right above a node which will resemble a small, reddish, slightly pointed bump on the cane. Like the five leaf set, make sure the node is pointing outward.

http://www.bayeradvanced.com/article/how-to-prune-hybrid-tea-roses.html?source=google
Video from Expert Village on how to prune a rose:
http://homegarden.expertvillage.com/videos/deadheading-roses.htm

Answer 2

Wait until winter is over to do any major pruning or you may lose up to a foot of what you want. We always recommend waiting til March 1st. Then it depends on what kind of a rose it is and how big it wants to get and how big you want it. Make cuts that encourage outward growth and then the light and air will circulate around the new growth. You have alot of time to go and get a pruning guide from your local library and study up.

Answer 3

Winter Rose Care

In cold-winter regions, roses need a good drink of water, a thorough clean up, and a new warm dressing for winter. Thoroughly water the soil around the plants after the first frost but before the ground freezes. Cut off any dead or diseased canes, and remove leaves and weeds around each plant’s base. In late fall, apply fresh compost, then mound about 6 to 10 inches of compost or soil around each plant’s base to protect the crown and root system and to prevent heaving.

Climbing roses require extra steps in cold-winter areas: Remove the canes from their supports, lay them on the ground, and cover with mulch; then securely tie long canes so they won’t whip around in winter winds.

To protect rose bushes grown at the edge of their hardiness range, mound a mix of 1 part sandy loam and 1 part compost 10 inches high around and over the bases of the bushes, and wrap the principal upright rose-bush canes in burlap. Apply both the mix and burlap in late fall when cold weather has settled in. In spring, when the roses’ buds swell, remove the burlap and half of the mix; rake out the remaining mix for mulch.

First Published: November 2004

Answer 4

Don't cut rose bushes down in winter wait till spring. Cutting them back encourages them to shoot now and they will frost. If you 'butcher' and they are not a robust variety some will die. I would cut them down by half. They don't need to be cut down in summer for the heat. Only to encourage more flowers. I live in Australia and not heard of here and it does get to 105 deg F where I live!