How to Prune and Care for Your Rose Bushes
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| Make pruning cut 1/4 inch abobe an outgrowing bud at a 45 degree angle |
- Cut away stems that are too close to the ground, are rubbing together or overcrowded. Get rid of any stems that are weak or spindly. Cut back any that are diseased or dead to healthy white pith and green stem.
- Pruning the most common hybrid tea roses or Floribundas begins early in the season. As each rose stem grows, flowers and then dies, prune it back to renew the growth for next year. New wood originates at the bottom of the shrub and replaces old wood over time as you cut it away.
- Flowers of floribunda roses are born on new shoots and old stems. The older stems will have the buds that will flower first and the young shoots bear later flowers. Prune to preserve both old and new stems. It is good to cut back the older shoots to about a foot and removing those that are very old altogether. Prune out only about one-third of the young shoots and cut back the remaining branches to about 6-inches.
- Hybrid tea roses produce long-stemmed, large blossoms throughout the growing season. If you prune it drastically, you will find fewer flowers, later blossoms and a smaller plant. Shorten thick stems to 12-inches or more. Occasionally cut away a stem at its base to stimulate new growth.
- Throughout the summer, check your roses and remove flowers. If you like cut flowers in the house, cut them just as the petals begin to open up. Otherwise, cut them right after they fade. This will channel the energy to the flowers that are still growing.
- Apply rose food fertilizer such as Espoma Rose-Tone or Bonide Systemic Rose & Flower Care as per manufacturer recommendations to ensure healthy growth and vigorous blooms.