Do all rose varieties require the same pruning approach?
Written by
Nguyen Minh
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Different types of roses have distinct pruning methods that are best suited for their health and optimal blooming. Hybrid teas need to be pruned back hard, while climbing roses need to be pruned in a very particular timeframe. Shrub varieties like Knockouts prefer very little pruning. I learned the hard way by pruning them all the same the first year and had limited success.
Hybrid Tea Roses
- Cut back severely to 8-18 inches in late winter
- Retain only 3-5 healthy canes per plant
- Remove all growth thinner than pencil diameter
- Promotes large exhibition-quality blooms
Climbing Roses
- Prune immediately after spring bloom finishes
- Train main canes horizontally along supports
- Cut side shoots back to 2-3 buds
- Preserves flower buds on old wood
Shrub Roses
- Lightly remove one-third of growth annually
- Focus on deadwood and crossing branches
- Maintain natural shape with minimal cutting
- Encourages continuous blooming cycles
Bloom cycles dictate when to prune climbing roses, the bloom in the spring from last season's growth. If you cut them before they bloom, you remove the buds in development. I learned this the hard way with my first climbing rose. Now I wait to prune back until the petals are gone.
Contemporary shrub roses, such as Knockouts, are very tolerant of light pruning because they tend to be highly resistant to diseases requiring minimal intervention. Just remove any dead stems and any crowded stems at the center. I actually prune my Knockouts more frequently than other types of roses, and I get better results.
It is important to care for the tree roses and their graft union. Prune the top as you would hybrid teas, but avoid damaging the graft union. I have been wrapping my tree roses with burlap during the winter. Be sure to cut any suckers growing up from below the graft.
Old garden roses really shouldn't be cut back much. Just dead or damaged wood. Their natural shape is a result of limited intervention. I cut mine back like a shrub, only much lighter. This keeps the natural effect intact.
Read the full article: Ultimate Rose Bush Pruning Guide
