Unlike modern bush roses, 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.
Bear in mind that a large number of old garden roses have an arching habit and need adequate space; shortening stems simply to restrict spread spoils their graceful shape.
Shrub roses that have a single flush of flowers
- Prune in late summer once flowering is completed
- The main requirement is to keep the plants free of dead, diseased and damaged wood, crossing or rubbing branches, or spindly growth
- Avoid excessive build-up of older, unproductive wood that is causing the centre to become crowded, removing one or two older branches from the centre if necessary
- If they become leggy and bare at the base, remove one or two stems back to near ground level, which will usually encourage new growth from the base
Includes: Species, Shrub, Minature and Rugosa groups; which includes the cultivar 'Fru Dagmar Hastrup'.
This method also works for: Alba, Centifolia, Damask, Gallica, Hybrid Musk, Moss, Scots and Sweet Briar groups; which includes the cultivars 'Charles de Mills' and 'William Lobb'.
Repeat-flowering shrub roses
- Maintain a balanced framework by reducing strong new growth in late winter by up to one-third. “English” roses: prune back the previous season’s growths by 30 to 50 percent of their length
- Shorten strong sideshoots to two or three buds
- Mature plants require a light renewal pruning each winter by cutting some of the older main stems back to the base. This encourages vigorous new shoots from the base that will flower the following summer
- Deadhead spent blooms as they fade in the summer, to encourage production of further flowers
Includes: Bourbon, China and Portland groups, and remontant roses. These contain the cultivars 'Duchess of Portland' and 'Reine Victoria'.
To prune other types of roses, see our advice topics below;
