In Southern California we generally don’t need to worry about frost, but occasionally it happens. We’ve found the best time to prune roses is mid to late January and no later than the first week of February if possible…(it’s not like the rose pruning police will come looking for you if you prune outside these times). Remember roses flower only on new growth so now is the time to get them ready to bloom beautifully in the spring.

Tools you’ll need to prune:

Pruning shears specifically for roses
A toothed saw, for cutting out dead wood, especially in old rose bushes
Heavy duty leather long gloves to avoid scratching up your arms
An organic dormant or fungicide spray

How much to cut? Depends on the rose bush. Hybrid tea rose bushes should be cut to about 3 feet. Floribunda rose bushes to about 2 feet. An easier rule of thumb is to never cut a rose bush by more than a third of its height (this is true for almost all trees and shrubs). Older roses should be left a bit taller.

When pruning keep these best practices in mind:

Prune the cane about 1/4 of an inch above a bud eye (where leaf attaches) at an slight angle so the new growth faces out
Prune out all canes smaller in width than a pencil, small limbs give you small roses; leave a good 4 or 5 strong canes per bush, more for floribundas; remember you can always prune more, but once you cut it off you cannot glue it back on
Prune out any canes crossing each other in the middle of the bush, shape the bush like a vase with your finished shrub looking like a big “V”
Use your saw to take out any dead wood or wood that is black or brown, which is often on older rose bushes; using a saw can encourage more canes
Remove all remaining leaves, clean up debris under the rose bushes (this is where insects can over winter), spray with an organic dormant spray or fungicide
Fertilize…organic fertilizer only or even better horse manure or compost; if you absolutely must use chemicals wait until the green leaves on your roses appear, (we prefer you don’t put your roses on drugs, just say no!)

Check your local botanical gardens and nurseries for rose pruning classes. A hands on demonstration can be easier especially for new rose growers. Keep in mind the above pruning tips are NOT for climbing roses.

January is also the month that most nurseries carry the most varieties of bare root roses. So if you’re looking for an unusual rose bush, this is the best time to find and plant them.

Reach out to us at containedbliss@gmail.com for further information on getting your roses ready to bloom beautifully in your garden in the Spring.