Rose Pruning
When Do You Prune Roses
January and February are the best months to prune roses in California. Rose plants have dropped their foliage and their sap thickens to protect the plant from freezing temperatures. Essentially, the rose is hibernating, or dormant, and reserves its nutrients deep within the core of the branches. Since the rose plant is sleeping, it's the perfect time to prune roses before it wakes up for spring and pushes out new growth.
5 Easy Steps
How to Prune a Rose Bush
- Using a clean, sharp Corona Aluminum Bypass Pruner and wearing Boss Guardian Angel extended sleeve gloves remove dead or damaged canes as well as small, twiggy ones.
- Only prune above the bud union. Remove canes
that are growing towards the center of the shrub
to create an open "vase" shape.
- Cut back remaining canes by about
two-thirds. Make cuts just above an
outward-facing leave node. Treat
cane cuts with Bonide Pruning Sealer.
- Remove all leaves from the remaining canes.
Gather leaves to prevent the spread of any
diseases or bugs.
- Once new growth reaches 1-inch, feed with E.B Stone Food.
