How to Trim a Rose Bush in Summer

Roses require yearly pruning to look their best and remain healthy. Rose pruning occurs at different times depending on the plant variety and the reason for pruning. Most modern roses require pruning in early spring while the plant is dormant, so only minor summer pruning to encourage flowering is necessary. Old-fashioned varieties flower on old wood, so their main pruning time is summer. Pruning old-fashioned roses in spring prevents them from blooming since they produce buds on year-old canes.

Things You'll Need

Bucket
Rubbing alcohol

Shears

Instructions

- 1
  Combine 7 parts rubbing alcohol with 3 parts water in a bucket. Dip the pruning shears in the alcohol solution after each cut to prevent spreading disease to the roses.
- 2
  Cut out any dead or damaged canes from old-fashioned and climbing varieties that only bloom once a year, after the plants finish flowering in summer. Remove the wood back to the nearest healthy part of the cane, making the cut within 1/4 inch of a bud or leaf.
- 3
  Prune out crossed canes on the interior of the old fashioned summer bloomers. Remove up to a third of the canes so air can circulate in the center of the plant.
- 4
  Head back overgrown branches and canes on the once yearly bloomers after flowering. Cut back the overgrown canes to a leaf or bud to shape and maintain the size of the rose plant.
- 5
  Deadhead all rose varieties throughout summer once they finish flowering. Cut off the old spent flowers with your shears, removing them within 1/4 inch of a five or seven leaflet stem.

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