Rose pruning: shrub roses

Pruning ensures that these roses grow vigorously and flower well each year. Most shrub roses require only light pruning, with exact details depending on whether it flowers just once or repeat flowers throughout the summer.

When to prune -

• Mid - February, early March further north in the UK

What to prune -

• shrub roses generally flower on older wood. and should be allowed to develop naturally, maintained by light but regular pruning and with a balance of older wood and young, vigorous growth.

• branches are diseased, damaged or dead (the three Ds).

• branches are congested or crossing each other.

• branches are growing in unwanted directions (e.g. in toward the towards the wall