Pruning a shrub rose
Year One
We define Year One as any rose that has completed its first season of flowering.
At this stage your rose will still be establishing its roots to support growth in the future, thus only very light pruning is required.
- Step 1 – cut back the flowering shoots leaving around 12-14 inches of growth from the base of the rose (use a measuring tape to help guide your pruning).
- Step 2 – the ‘four D’s’ – remove any dead, dying, damaged and diseased stems.
- Step 3 – remove any foliage that remains. This is where disease spores can lay dormant ready to challenge your plant next year.
Year Two
Your plant will still be developing its root system and will not be at its mature size or shape.
- Step 1 – cut back all stems by one half. Cut back any particularly long stems to the same length as the rest of your shrub.
- Step 2 – the ‘four D’s’ – remove any dead, dying, damaged and diseased stems.
- Step 3 – remove any foliage that remains.
Year Three
By the third year your rose will be a fully formed plant. Your choice
of how much you cut back is a little more flexible. You now have the
opportunity to influence the size and shape of your shrub.
Before pruning, choose from one of the following:
- For a taller shrub – cut back by less than one third.
- To maintain its current size – cut your rose back by one third.
- To reduce its size – cut back by a half or even more. This will reduce the size of the shrub without impacting the amount of flowering.
Then follow these steps:
- Step 1 – cut back all stems depending on your choice
from above. Cut back any particularly long stems to the same length as
the rest of your shrub. - Step 2 – the ‘four D’s’ – remove any dead, dying, damaged and diseased stems.
- Step 3 – remove any foliage that remains.
Year Four and Beyond
To ensure your rose performs to its optimum, we recommend following the steps in Year Three every year.
