Pruning Roses

[chokkie]

Hi green-fingered ABers out there. Just wondering - when should I be pruning my rose trees, please? Now? Or should I leave them until next spring? And when I do prune them, how far should I cut them back? We've just planted three new rose trees, should I prune the existing ones back to as far as the new ones are done? That's quite a prune .... hope you can help, many thanks, cheers, Chox.

[maggiebee]

My dad was a gardener all his life and taught me to prune gently at this time of year - then prune again harder in the spring. Has always worked for me.

[chokkie]

That's just what I wanted to know, but when I prune harder in the spring - how hard? Back to as far as my new rose trees look at the moment? I.e. just a few "branches" off the main stem?

[Buenchico]

The RHS website gives different pruning advice for different types of roses. Select the relevant type from the list here to see what they suggest:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=153#section-2

[maggiebee]

You can prune quite hard back just so long as you remember the following:
Make a slanted cut just above an outward-facing bud eye. Cutting at a slant helps water run off of the wound, which prevents water from collecting. After making this cut, the rose will direct its growth to the closest bud, sending out a new terminal shoot. Choose an outward-facing bud eye to ensure that the new growth is directed away from the center of the plant.
Roses are very hardy.

[chokkie]

Thank you so much, everyone, for your rose-pruning advice. Really greatly appreciated. Will get on with the "soft" pruning during the course of next week!. Cheers, Chox.

[Old_Geezer]

Either.
As hard as you wish.

[Chipchopper]

What ever time of the year you decide to prune, the most important thing to remember is to do it when no frost is on the forecast.