Kansas City Rose Society
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Fertilizing Roses
When and How
Recommendations For Pruning Roses In The Kansas City Area
Link to Transplanting Roses page

When to prune?
  • Roses are best pruned in the spring. In Kansas City, prune during the first week or two of April, after the threat of frost has passed.

Why prune every spring?
  • Encourages more flower production
  • Improves the health of the bush by opening the center of the plant to light and airflow
  • Removes damaged and diseased canes
  • Helps control size and shape
Rose pruning steps

1 - If the roses were covered with mulch, leaves, or soil for winter protection:
  • pull the covering away from the canes to prevent disease.

2 - Remove Dead, Damaged & Diseased Canes
  • Dead canes. Any canes that are dead need to be removed at ground level. Don’t’ leave short stubs.
  • Damaged canes. Any canes that have been broken or are discolored from cold damage need to be pruned back to healthy tissue, where the pith in the center of the cane is pearly white or light tan.
  • Diseased canes. Canes with brown, black, or purple blotches  need to be pruned below all the diseased spots to healthy tissue with pearly white or light tan pith in the center of the cane.
  • Crossing canes. Canes that rub against each other cause damage to the cane tissue which allows for disease entry. One of the crossing canes needs to be removed to the ground or back to the next outward facing bud.
  • Misdirected canes. Occasionally, canes will grow toward the center of the bush or are otherwise not growing in a graceful, natural direction. Remove them to the ground or back to the next outward facing bud.
  • Weak canes. Canes with a diameter less than that of a lead pencil (1/4-inch) need to be removed.
    *Click any image below to enlarge
Picture
Before Pruning A Sweet Diana Miniature
Picture
After Pruning A Sweet Diana Miniature
Picture
Before Pruning A Dick Clark Rose
Picture
After Pruning A Dick Clark Rose
3 - The remaining canes should be thinned out to 3-7 healthy ones and shortened to desired height.
  • Old, woody canes should be removed.
  • Hybrid tea roses can be pruned down to 6-8 inches to encourage larger flowers.
  • Most landscape roses can be cut down by half.
  • Old garden roses and rugosas require minimal shortening.
  • Make final pruning cut 1/4 to 1/2 inch above an outward facing bud and seal cut with waterproof carpenter’s glue.
    Ortho’s All About Roses, Tommy Cairns, Copyright 1999.  

Also See: Rose Diseases,Cankers
Picture
Pruning Climbing Roses

  • Climbing roses require special attention

  • The main canes of a climbing rose should be trained to grow as near to horizontal as possible. These main canes should not be pruned unless they meet one of the criteria in Step 2 above.

  • Lateral canes growing from the main canes should be pruned back leaving at least four buds. Most flowers will be produced by these lateral canes.
Place cursor on image below to read caption; click to enlarge.
4th of July climbing rose “before pruning.” Photo by Laura Dickinson, Kansas City Rose Society. 1a
02, 4th of July rose after pruning, Photo by Laura Dickinson, Kansas City Rose Society, 1a
03, 4th of July rose 6 weeks later, Photo by Laura Dickinson, Kansas City Rose Society, 3a
Picture
Pruning Climbers, a video by Heirloom Roses  
  • Click to View Video  (YouTube)

Optional -- spray with fungicides
  • If there has been a problem with blackspot in the past, this is a good time to spray the pruned bushes and the area around them with a fungicide that kills fungal spores on contact such as mancozeb or chlorothalonil.
Spring Fertilizer
  • This is a good time to fertilize the plants to get them off to a good start.
  • Read More About Fertilizing Roses
See Additional Information Provided On This Site
Pruning Roses
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The Kansas City Rose Society is a not-for-profit organization.
Click Here to Order a Love is a Rose rose bush for you loved one, online, today.
Picture
Site Updated 01-24-23

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Our Vision -- A World Class public rose garden where the community can enjoy and learn about roses.

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© 2022 Kansas City Rose Society

  • Home
    • Locate Us
    • Site Map
  • About
    • Our Organization
    • Our Board Members >
      • Get Involved
      • Board Responsibilities
    • Award of Garden Excellence
    • The Garden Story
    • Our History
    • News & Newsletters >
      • 2022 Fall Newsletter
  • Events
    • Event Calendar
    • Weddings
  • Programs
    • For Adults >
      • Rose Garden Groomers
      • Rose Garden Readings
      • Rose Show
      • Photography Workshop
    • For Children >
      • 2023 Poetry Contest >
        • Past Poetry Winners
      • 2023 Art Show >
        • 2020 Exhibit
      • Garden Field Trips
  • KCRS Photos
    • 2022 Photo Gallery >
      • Past Years' Galleries
    • 2022 KCRS Rose Show Photo Winners >
      • Archive - KCRS Rose Show Photo Winners
    • Rose Videos
    • 2021 AMS Photo Winner
  • Rose Info
    • Growing Roses
    • Ask A Rosarian! - FAQ
    • Rose Resources
    • Rose Care Calendar
    • Getting Started
    • Transplanting Roses
    • Pruning Roses
    • Winter Rose Care
    • Rose Classifications
    • Rose Diseases
    • Rose Insect Pests
    • Rose Soil Testing Tips
    • Fertilizing Roses
    • Watering Roses
  • Rose Library
  • Join Us
    • Membership
    • Online Application
    • The Rosebuds
    • Member Opportunities
  • Donations
    • Make A Donation
    • Memory & Friendship Roses >
      • Purchase Online
    • Yearbook Sponsors