There is "Phenologic wisdom" or folklore that tells us we should be " pruning roses when forsythia blooms." Phenology is the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events and how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate, as well as habitat factors (such as elevation). Essentially, it is nature's calendar. It tracks when things happen in the natural world. Birds migrate, plants and flowers bloom, certain insects appear, frost arrives, leaves bud or fall all as part of our seasonal year. The garden does not pace itself to our calendar. Spring may come early one year and late another. By being able to read certain biological phenomena, we can fairly accurately predict when to take action in the garden.
Roses are among the first landscape plants to resume growth, which begins as buds swell and new stems develop.Pruning during dormancy helps direct the plant’s energy into strong, productive growth. Most roses flower best when they are pruned heavily each year before new growth begins. However, roses that bloom only once in early spring should be pruned after flowering, while repeat-blooming roses that flower throughout the summer should be pruned in winter to encourage vigorous growth and abundant blooms.
Basic rose pruning guidelines include:
- Remove older stems with thick, woody bark at the base
- Retain 3–7 healthy, sturdy canes
- Cut remaining canes back to 12–15 inches
- Make cuts about ¼ inch above an outward-facing bud at a slight angle to allow water to run off
A short instructional video demonstrating proper pruning cuts is available at the link below. Shawn shows us which branches need to come out and which ones stay, as well as how and where to prune the remaining branches to get maximum growth and vigor from the rose bush. Enjoy!
