Hybrid tea roses benefit from heavy pruning in winter. Shrub and ground cover roses need only shaping or light shearing. Both techniques are detailed below.

Pruning hybrid tea roses

Remove all dead wood and all weak, twiggy branches (darkened in drawing). Make cuts flush with the bud union (the swelling at the base of the plant).

Cut all branches that cross through the center. This opens up the plant and gives it a vase shape. In hot climates, some rosarians just shorten center-crossing branches, so leaves will shade the bud union from the scorching summer sun.

In mild climates, shorten the remaining healthy growth by about one-third.

In cold-winter climates, where freeze damage occurs, remove all dead and injured stems. This may result in a shorter bush.

Pruning shrub roses

Remove dead growth and prune old, weak, or diseased canes. Then cut back wayward stems.

If you want to reduce the plant’s height and create a bushier form, shear it back by a third to a half.

Pruning ground cover roses

Cut back stems of Flower Carpet and other ground cover roses by about a third of their length. To develop a more prostrate form, cut vertical stems back to the plant’s main stem.

Making the proper cuts

Make cuts at a 45° angle about 1/4 inch above an outward-facing growth bud. Make a clean cut without ripping the bark. Don't leave stubs.

Dotted lines show where to cut a rose at different times during the growing season. Always cut above a five-leaflet leaf.