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How to prune roses

Rose plants in the garden after all pruning process completed.

Overview

The end of winter is the best time to prune the roses in your garden, allowing them to blossom well in spring. Getting rid of all the dead branches, leaves and spent flowers allows the plant to focus all its energy into producing gorgeous blooms in spring and summer. This handy guide will show you how easy it is to prune your roses.

Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses and gloves, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

Steps

1Assess your roses

Before you start pruning, you’ll want to do a general assessment of your rose bush to see what condition they're in. Look for any old or spent blooms, dead wood and branches or canes that are crossing over one another. This is what you’ll be pruning away- it's a process called “deadheading”.

Once a flower fades and loses its petals, the plant begins to put a lot of energy into producing seeds instead of flowers. This is why regular pruning helps create an abundance of gorgeous flowers in your garden.
Dried up rose flower in garden.

2Remove dead wood

Before pruning, sterilise your pruning saw or shears so that you don’t accidentally transfer any unwanted pests or diseases. (Plant diseases can spread easily from one plant to another). Use a disinfectant that is safe for plants, but known to kill off plant pathogens. 

Once your equipment is sterilised, use your pruning saw to remove any dead, old or grey branches underneath the rose. This will help encourage new blooms and improve the look, shape and size of your roses. 
Removing dead wood of rose plant with pruning saw.

3Prune the other canes

Next, remove any canes that may be crossing over one another; this allows your roses to grow outwards.

Taking your secateurs, cut at a 45-degree angle sloping away from the bud. You’ll want to make sure that each cut is no further than halfway to an outward-facing bud eye. (An outward facing bud eye is where the next bloom will form and produce flowers.) 

Removing canes crossing over one another using secateurs.

4Add in mulch

Now that your rose bushes are freshly pruned, apply pea straw mulch around the base of the rose plant to help retain moisture as the weather warms up for spring and summer. 
Make sure to leave a small gap around the trunk of the plant to promote air circulation and avoid any fungal diseases or rot forming at the base. 

And there you have it - perfectly pruned roses that are ready for summer growth. 
Adding pea straw mulch around the base of the rose plant.

5Need tools for pruning?

We have a wide range of gardening supplies to help with your projects. 
Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.