Any quick answer as to how/when to prune rosebushes?

We've heard cut them 1/2 down in fall, and then again in the spring....not sure that's correct.

We have two small bush type rose bushes. I don't want them to get too "leggy", and another, what I shall call a regular rose bush. I didn't think it was coming back this year, but it did, though a bit later.

It's got a bloom on it now, but lots more leafy stuff.

Here's the little shrub rose



And the one bloom from the other one.

 

This is a good question.

I have john davis rose bushes, and I thought of cutting them down.

 

The important thing about roses is that most roses are grafted. Therefore, cutting it back too much can ruin the plant.

Basically, just for background, a plant that is grafted is when a scion (a branch or vegetative bud) is physically joined with a rootstock's phloem and xylem so that the scion benefits from a rootstock's traits. In otherwords, the rootstock is usually a native species that tolerates soils for the particular area where it is meant to be grown or is insect/disease resistant. The scion is typically selected for its flowering traits.

With that out of the way, Roses have cane-like growth, meaning that they have relatively quick growth. Therefore you can prune them back rather heavily and still have the plants come back to full size the following season. I would suggest pruning them after they are done flowering--but to my knowledge, roses bloom on new growth (unlike hydrangeas) so if you prune in the fall/winter, you don't need to worry about cutting off the next summer's blooms. Anyways, when cutting back, make sure that you locate the location of the graft (looks like a scar) and do not cut below that point.

Next spring, when new growth starts coming up, check to make sure that new growth is not coming up below the graft scar. If it is, cut these shoots off since they will weaken the scion and will have vegetative and floral traits of the rootstock--which most likely would be undesirable.

 

It's early.

So, if I cut them back after they are done blooming, there is no need to cut them again in the spring, unless new growth is below that scar like area.

Roses sound like a lot of work.

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

I would suggest waiting to prune them after the leaves have dropped or are dropping. This way you ensure that the root system has stored enough energy for next season and you will get quite a bit of growth in the spring. Typically late fall and early winter can be very good times to prune plants since they are dormant and you will not affect the plants growth since all of the sugars are stored in the roots of the plant instead of the tops.

And you are correct--there is no need to prune them next spring except for cutting root suckers off of the plant, unless you just have some need to prune something.

 

Thanks!