How to Prune Old Climbing Roses

Some homeowners use old climbing roses as a focal point in their garden, which is an excellent idea if the roses are properly maintained and cared for. The roses should be pruned on a regular basis to keep them looking their best season after season.

1. Determine when you are going to prune the roses. This is suggested because you will need to water the soil underneath the roses the day before the pruning takes place. This should be done to help the roses recover quickly from the pruning process.


2. Put on a pair of gardening gloves to protect your hands from getting stuck by the thorns on the stems of the roses.


3. Look for any dead canes on the flower. The dead canes will be yellow or brown in color.


4. Use loppers to cut the dead canes off as close to the ground as you can possibly get.


5. Find the oldest cane on the plant and follow it to where it emerges from the soil. There will be a raised area near the base of the plant, which is commonly referred to as the "bud union".


6. Use the loppers to cut the stem of the plant approximately 1/4-inch above the bud union.


7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 above for the remainder of the old canes.


8. Use pruning shears to cut canes that are growing our horizontally. The canes should be cut back at least 6-inches at a 45-degree angle.


9. Use pruning shears to remove any wilted flowers. The cut should be made at a 45-degree angle just above the first set of leaves on the stem.