Rose pruning

[Greeniscalming]

This is a ‘Fab at 50’ rose, I’ve had it nearly 2 years (no prizes for guessing my age!). I’m sure I shouldn’t have left it to get this tall but I’m reluctant to cut it back as all the new growth is towards the top. What is the best thing to do please, and when?

Prune it any time from now till about mid-March.

It’s a bush rose, so should have several stems from near the base. I think you’ll struggle to get that. What I would do is prune the LH stems to an outward facing bud, probably shortening each stem by about a third. Then take the long stem and prune it to the same height, again to an outward facing bud, but this time the bud will be tiny and undeveloped. You can find the buds by looking where the stem has a slight bulge and faint line across it.

This is what I would do, but roses aren’t my specialty.

If you’re not used to pruning, look at www.rhs.org.uk/plants/roses/pruning-guide

Thank you, that’s very helpful. I’ll give it a go!

Assuming it's not a standard rose ( like a lollipop) then yes it needs pruning down to about 30-45cm. As previously said try to prune to outward facing buds so you can get that goblet shape. Can you post another picture of the base of it?

It is (was) meant to be a bush not a standard.

Me experience with similar roses is that top flowering roses respond well to pruning. The usual advice is to reduce a third of the rose each year i.e. prune a third of the rose really low

Thank you. I didn’t know about reducing 1/3 of the plant, I’ll keep that in mind.

I'd prune it where the red lines are, but a bit closer to the buds. Prune out the dead (brown) wood too.

I've taken long straggly roses right down to near the base and they have revived and grown well.

Give a good feed in Spring.

Thank you everyone.

I'd give it a hard prune, it looks like there's a bit of dieback which I'd prune out completely. Roses bounce back really well, and if you want to avoid growth at the top of leggy stems then pruning is essential. Floribunda and HT Roses do well with the treat 'em mean, keep' em keen approach regards pruning. They will need a Spring/summer feed too.