How to Prune Propagating Roses

Prune in the spring to encourage healthy foliage on the plant. Springtime pruning also encourages a high yield for the rest of the year.

Remove dead foliage and fallen debris from the rose bed. Set the foliage aside and dispose of it later.

Uproot weeds by hand from the plant base. Weeds attack the root system and spread disease.

Place a pair of bypass shears on the outward-facing bud of a crisscrossing branch, and cut the branch at a 45-degree angle. Cutting at such an angle creates a clean incision and promotes upward growth from the plant base.

Employ the same technique as you did in Step 4 to cut back the rest of the plant. Cut each branch back 6 to 12 inches.

Replenish the fertilizer. Choose a variety containing both time-release nitrogen and soluble nitrogen. A balanced fertilizer such as this one promotes plant growth.

Spread 2 to 4 inches of mulch over the rose bed. Mulch blocks soil dryness.

Water your rose plant weekly. If your area's natural rainfall level is minimal, supply your plant with at least 2 inches of water during the spring and summer months.

Cut back larger plants that may be crowding your rose plant's space. Roses need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day for optimum health and continued propagation.