Pruning is the act of selectively cutting down the stems of a rose during the winter months when the rose is dormant to manage the plant. It is arguably one of the most important elements of rose maintenance as it keeps the plant as healthy as possible and encourages new growth.  

Even if you are currently trying to grow your rose to a much larger size, it is still vital to give the plant a light prune each winter. Below, our Rosarians explain why.

CONTROL SHAPE AND SIZE

The most common reason why gardeners prune their roses and other plants each year is to manage the shape and size of the plant to stop them from becoming unruly and growing beyond the space they have been planted in.  

Pruning your roses back each year allows you to keep them at a manageable size that suits the area you have planted them in and also allows you to shape the plant to your desired aesthetic by removing any stems that are growing in the wrong direction. 

Our Rosarians say: don’t panic if you think you have pruned your roses too far back this winter; they are a strong, sturdy plant that will return to your desired size within a couple of years.

ENCOURAGE NEW BLOOMS

Another benefit of pruning your roses each winter is that cutting back existing stems will encourage more flowers the following summer. This is because cutting out old wood redirects the plant’s energy into producing new, vigorous shoots, which will lead to more abundant, better quality flowers in the summer that follows. 

Our Rosarians say: certain roses, such as rambling roses, need pruning using different techniques to ensure the plant will produce flowers for the following summer, so if this is your first time pruning, it is best to learn the basics first.

CLICK HERE TO READ OUR ROSARIAN’S GUIDE TO PRUNING

MAINTAIN PLANT HEALTH

The most important part of pruning your roses each winter is to remove any old or unhealthy stems from the plant to let the rose direct its energy to new growth and keep the plant healthy. Cutting out selective stems also improves air circulation around the plant, helping prevent certain diseases 

If you don’t prune your rose for a couple of years, it has a higher chance of stems becoming damaged and vulnerable to disease. 

Our Rosarians say: we advise anyone pruning their roses to remove any dead, damaged or diseased wood from the plant and any weak or wayward growing wood. This allows the strongest parts of the plant to keep producing new growth.

CLICK HERE TO READ OUR FULL PRUNING GUIDE