Pruning Roses
Every time you make a cut it will affect the growth and over all health of your rose. All cuts, regardless of their reason, should be made in the same manner. Cuts should always be made at an angle, just above an outward facing bud. This directs the growth of the rose away from the center of the bush, preventing crossed and crowded branches, which can cause disease. All roses benefit from being pruned once a year. First of all, you should remove dead or dying, damaged branches, and the weaker of two stems that are rubbing against one another. This essential pruning can be done throughout the year, as damage occurs.
One-time flowering roses should be pruned only immediately following the blooming period.
All other roses can be pruned either in the early spring, or in the fall. Pruning in spring takes place when the leaves start to unfurl, before they are fully opened. The advantage to pruning in the early spring is that you can remove any winter-killed stems at this time. Often, after pruning in the fall, you will still have to prune in the spring. Pruning in fall takes place after the leaves fall off. The advantage to pruning in the fall is that you will have a shorter bush to mulch, and there will be no swaying branches to be caught in the wind. Once your rosebush is three or four years old, it is a good idea to remove 1/4 to 1/3 of the oldest, thickest canes. Prune them off at ground level in the spring to stimulate the growth of new canes, which will produce more flowers. Prune tender roses down to one foot in the fall, or just remove the dead branches in the spring.
Suckers
Included in the pruning regime, attention should be taken to remove ‘suckers’. Suckers are unwanted growth coming from the rootstock. Check to see if the rose is on its own root. If it is not, any shoots coming from below the bud union will not have the characteristics of the rose itself and should be removed. They will be characteristic of the rootstock rose, which if left may eventually take over, as the rootstock rose is often a more vigorous growing rose. Watch for suckers on top grafted tree roses as well. Remove any growth from below the bud union.
