How to Prune Cascading Roses

Landscape roses, also called groundcover or cascading roses, work well along borders, walls and trellises because they don't have a formal shape. Pruning roses invigorates the plants and allows you to direct growth to certain areas. It is best to prune roses in the late fall or winter, before the first frost of the year. Removing more wood results in fewer but larger blooms. Less pruning brings smaller blooms but a larger quantity. How much you prune from your plant will depend upon your preferences.

Clippers
Isopropyl alcohol
Rag

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the clippers to ensure that you don't spread disease around your garden. Apply isopropyl alcohol directly on the cutting edges and wipe it off with a clean rag. Ensure that there is no rust or dirt on the clippers. Repeat this step before moving from one plant to another.
- 2
  Prune the rose plant before the buds begin to swell. Remove dead, damaged or diseased canes first, followed by canes that cross other canes. Make clean cuts with the clippers, avoiding jagged cuts or tears along the stems. Oregon State University suggests making cuts at 45-degree angles toward the center of the bush.
- 3
  Remove one-third to two-thirds of the healthy wood. Prune new plants above the outward facing five-leaflet leaf; prune established plants lower to the ground to ensure the canes will support the weight of the bloom. Try to keep the center of the plant open; roses need plenty of air circulation for strong growth.

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