How to prune roses with pictures
- when should roses be pruned for winter
- when should roses be cut back for winter
- when should roses be pruned back for winter
- when should knockout roses be cut back for winter
When is it too late to prune roses...
Rose pruning: general tips
Perhaps if you've inherited a rose or lost the label - you may not know what type of rose you have. In which case, follow our basic tips below to get you started.
What happens if you prune roses too early
Prune in February or March.
Climber or rambling type
If your rose has long arching stems, is very tall or needs some sort of support to hold it up then it is most likely a climber or rambler.
- Where there is only one thick old stem going down to ground level, go easy as it may not regenerate if cut hard back.
Instead, shorten by between a third and a half
- For multi-stemmed roses, aim to take out one or two of the oldest looking stems (i.e. grey, flaky bark) to as near to the base as you can
- If the response the next season is for the rose to send out a lot of strong but barren (non-flowering) shoots, chances are it is a rambler.
A rose that responds with less vigorous, flowering growth is probably a climber
Shrub or bush type
Very small roses are easy to recognise so follow our guide for patio and miniature roses. Larger roses might be any number of types, from hybrid tea and
- should i cut down my roses before winter
- rose pruning for winter