Question: When and how should I prune my roses?

Answer: Bush roses are pruned in mid-February. Trim them by 50 percent, making each cut directly above a bud that faces out from the center of the plant. That will encourage open, more compact growth. Climbing roses and spring-only bloomers should be pruned immediately after their burst of spring flowers. Trim them by half, removing all weak, unproductive canes in the process. Rosarians suggest sealing the cut ends with white glue. You will also have ongoing pruning to do during the growing season. Remove all spent flowers by cutting just beneath the second 5-leaflet leaf.