How to Trim a Rose Bush to Encourage Growth

While trimming your roses may seem counterintuitive to encourage the plants to grow more, it’s important to prune your rose bushes at least once a year. Learning how to trim a rose bush helps the plant thrive by removing dead or diseased branches and making room for new growth. Trim a rose bush like a pro to promote optimal blooms next season by following these seven steps. 

Prepping to Trim Bushes

Before you reach for your pruning shears, stop to consider the best trimming method for your rose bushes. The best time to prune depends on the type of roses you have. Here are a few guidelines to know when to prune roses in your garden: 

• Shrub rose: Prune in late winter to early spring, just before the new buds begin popping up. 

• Wild roses, old garden roses, and climbing roses: Prune after the last blooms have died away for the season.

Trimming dead or diseased portions of your rose bushes can be done as needed. You can also remove spent blooms throughout the blooming season to encourage more growth and provide additional care for your rose bushes. However, it’s best to stop pruning about two months before your area’s first frost date when the plant starts going dormant.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

While trimming rose bushes is an affordable project to do yourself, sometimes it may be easier to let a local landscaping pro take care of it. If your roses look seriously diseased, a professional can help treat the plants and prevent it from spreading to nearby plants or shrubbery.  The average cost of trimming a large series of bushes is $850, but it typically costs $100 per bush. When hiring a landscaping pro to trim your rose bushes, be sure to specify the type and size to ensure your landscaper has the right skills, equipment, and experience to tackle the job.