How to prune your rose

Pruning is one of the most important steps in keeping your roses healthy, productive, and full of beautiful blooms. Whether you’re growing a Hybrid Tea, Floribunda, or Climbing Rose, regular pruning helps encourage new growth, improve air circulation, and maintain a strong shape.

When to Prune

• The best time to prune most roses is in late winter or early spring — typically February to March — just as new growth begins.
  
• Avoid pruning during frost or very wet conditions.
  
• Light pruning and deadheading can also be done throughout the growing season to tidy the plant and encourage repeat flowering.

What You’ll Need

• A sharp, clean pair of secateurs
  
• Thick gardening gloves to protect from thorns
  
• Optional: long-handled loppers for thicker stems

How to Prune

1. Remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood
   • Cut back any black, brown, or shrivelled stems to healthy green wood.
2. Cut out crossing or weak stems
   • These can rub together and cause wounds that let in disease. Keep the centre of the plant open for airflow.
3. Shape your rose
   • Aim for a balanced, open shape — think of a goblet or vase form with stems growing outwards.
4. Make clean cuts
   • Cut about 5mm above an outward-facing bud at a slight angle, sloping away from the bud. This encourages new growth in the right direction.
5. Adjust by rose type:
   • Hybrid Tea Roses: Cut stems back to 20–30cm (8–12 inches) from the base.
   • Floribunda Roses: Prune to 30–40cm (12–16 inches) from the base to encourage bushy growth.
   • Climbing Roses: Remove old flowering stems after they’ve bloomed, and tie in strong new shoots horizontally to promote new flowering spurs.
   • Shrub Roses: Lightly prune to shape and remove any dead or straggly growth. Avoid hard pruning.

After Pruning Care

• Apply a rose feed or slow-release fertiliser to encourage strong regrowth.
• Add a layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Check regularly for pests or disease as new growth appears.

With the right pruning, your rose will reward you with healthy growth and an abundance of stunning blooms year after year.