How to Prune a Shrub Rose

Horticulturist Tobey Nelson walks us through how to prune a shrub rose in winter. 

Late winter is the best time of year to prune a shrub rose. Follow these basic steps for success!

1. Remove dead wood.
2. Remove any canes that come from below the graft.
3. Remove any branches that grow toward the interior.
4. Remove weak and spindly growth.
5. Remove any damaged, broken or diseased canes.
6. Finish by deadheading the canes and consider cutting back by one third for height control, if desired.

Remember to always prune to an outward facing node, as Tobey describes in her video.

To learn more about Rose care, visit our How to Have Success with Roses blog post.